This year I took part again in CALLE 21, the Lavapiés street art festival, creating an installation at Encuentros Café on Calle Embajadores. The bad luck? The building put up scaffolding a few days after I got my location, so I had to adapt to the circumstances.
With a fresh approach, the idea was to represent the skies of Madrid, an icon of the city, through its birds. I’m a born-and-bred Madrileña and I love my city, and I think Lavapiés is the perfect place to represent that rich, varied cultural heritage that truly stands for freedom. I was given Encuentros Café, and it couldn’t have been a better match: every bird, whatever its colour or origin, has its place in this little corner of the neighbourhood. The panels with the drawings were also made on black to imitate the chalkboard effect of the bars in the area.
As a finishing touch, the whole installation was accompanied by the opening verses of ‘Los pájaros’ (‘The Birds’), by Madrid poet Gloria Fuertes, who lived in the neighbourhood.
Come and see it if you’re in Madrid!
Hugs,
Marta
