Streets that talk: urban art in Las Palmas

A visit to Las Palmas involves much more than just enjoying its cuisine, landscape and architecture. You really must spend some time looking at the street art, of which there are all kinds of examples. You only need to stroll through the streets and neighbourhoods of the city to find some outstanding examples.

Paseo de Las Canteras

This street hosts a work of art by Diego Diem and CNFSN, created with great skill. It depicts the head of a surprised man, although half of his face is obscured. Other pieces of urban art also await, with a series of letters stretching out on either side.

Avenida José Mesa y López

On the dragon’s back, a fantasy being makes the following claim: “Graffiti doesn’t bite”. And to finish it off, the reptile is releasing wind, making fun of those who are uncomfortable with street art.

El Refugio park

El Refugio park has served as a stage for several artistic creations. And no wonder, since part of the facilities are dedicated to skateboarding. You’ll find a wide range of pieces on the sports ramps. Some are as simple as a lattice of letters and others are figurative.

But it’s not the only one you can see. On another of the ramps a man’s face has been drawn, winking and smiling. This doesn’t say much on its own, although there is one detail that will interest you. The right-hand corner contains a small heart giving a touch of red that stands out in the piece.

The mural in the La Minilla neighbourhood

The result is a collection of scenes that are closely related to the city or that inspired the authors. You can see the writer Benito Pérez Galdós and Compay Segundo, among others. It is a display of affection for both the place’s distinguished individuals and the locality itself.

It also sought to demonstrate that graffiti is not an act of vandalism, rather another aspect of human creativity. Although it is a controversial medium, this type of art can revitalise dead or unnoticed spaces.