On our way to a school event yesterday morning, I glanced out the window near the metro at Metro Faria Lima and was greeted by signs on the top of a large pole. The one that really spoke to me was "Seguro Morreu de Tédio" or Security died of boredom. What exactly does that mean? So, I googled it, and it seems that these are the phrases of so-called "street poets." A different kind of graffiti--these are pages glued on to poles slightly out of your eye line.
I read in this article that there are many of these "street poets" doing their street art and each artist has his or her own reason for it. Protesting the law of "Cidade Limpa" or a city without billboards and advertising. And many seem to want only for you to think. And it did make me think.
And it also reminded me of a beautiful song called "Gentileza" or by the Brazilian artist Marisa Monte, about a street prophet who painted walls with poetry and love for around 40 years in Rio. And then the walls were painted over grey again.
Link is here if video does not come up: http://youtu.be/mpDHQVhyUrY.
And here is a translation to English:
Kindness
They've erased everythingPainted all grey
The word on the wall
Is covered with paint
They've erased everything
Painted all grey
(What's) only left on the wall
(Is) sadness and fresh paint
But we who rush by
Through the city's streets
Deserve to read Kindness'
Letters and words
So therefore I ask you
Out there in the world
Which is smarter?
The book or wisdom?
The world is a school
Life is a circus
Love, word that frees
So said the Prophet
They've erased everything
Painted all grey
(What's) only left on the wall
(Is) sadness and fresh paint
So therefore I ask you
Out there in the world
Which is smarter?
The book or wisdom?
The world is a school
Life is a circus
Love, word that frees
So said the Prophet
No comments:
Post a Comment