The Legend of SpY
SpY has a cult following in the Madrid street art scene. His works take urban spaces and catapults them into a commentary on the status quo. More often than not, it’s a critical reflection against power. Text, objects and landscape become willing members in his activist art.
The bulk of his production stems from the observation of the city and an appreciation of its components, not as inert elements but as a palette of materials overflowing with possibilities. His ludic spirit, careful attention to the context of each piece, and a non-invasive, constructive attitude, unmistakably characterise his interventions.
ALIVE
The word “ALIVE” painted large scale on the facade of a building in a neighbourhood of the city of Stavanger (Norway).
TITLE: ALIVE
PICTURES BY: Brian Tailman, Ian Cox, Darryl Plummer, @aruallan | Nuart Festival 2016
YEAR: Stavanger – Norway, 2016
IMAGE CREDIT: spy-urbanart.com
SpY’s pieces aim to be a parenthesis in the automated inertia of the urban dweller. They are pinches of intention, hidden in a corner for whoever wants to let himself be surprised. Filled with equal parts of irony and positive humour, they appear to raise a smile, incite reflection, and favour an enlightened conscience.
BALONES
Installation in a city river of 500 balloons tied to a plastic dummy’s hand. Festival Cuarto Aalto.
TITLE:BALONES
YEAR: Zaragoza – Spain, 2008
IMAGE CREDIT: spy-urbanart.com
BRAILLIE
Series of stickers with different Braille messages and strategically placed in Madrid for exclusive reading of blind people.
TITLE:BRAILLIE
YEAR: Madrid – Spain 2006
IMAGE CREDIT: spy-urbanart.com
CRISIS
Word “Crisis” created with 1000€ in coins of 2 cents. The installation took place in a central neighbourhood in the city of Bilbao. All the coins disappeared in less than 24 hours.
TITLE:CRISIS
YEAR: Bilbao – Spain, 2015
IMAGE CREDIT: spy-urbanart.com
GO HOME
Installation of a 70m banner on an industrial tower which reads ” GO HOME” | The Street Art Museum | Crossing Borders / Crossing Boundaries.
TITLE:GO HOME
YEAR: St Petersburg – Russia, 2016
IMAGE CREDIT: spy-urbanart.com
HIGH
Installation of a basketball ring on the facade of a building in an urban area.
TITLE:HIGH
YEAR: Madrid – Spain
2007
IMAGE CREDIT: spy-urbanart.com
STATUE
Series of interventions on public sculptures in various cities in Spain.
TITLE:STATUE
YEAR: Madrid & various cities, 2006
IMAGE CREDIT: spy-urbanart.com
SIGNALS
Series of graphically modified traffic signals strategically placed in Madrid. | 11M sign, commemorating victims of a terrorist attack.
TITLE:SIGNALS
YEAR: Madrid – Spain, 2004
IMAGE CREDIT: spy-urbanart.com
I’M NOT A REAL ARTIST
The phrase, “I’m not a real artist” is painted above the façade of a building in the city of Paris. The letters were painted with phosphorescent paint that is replenished throughout the day by the light of the sun as well as by spotlights placed in front of the building. The letters shine brightly on their own once night falls.
TITLE:I’M NOT A REAL ARTIST
YEAR: Paris – France, 2014
IMAGE CREDIT: spy-urbanart.com
0 LIKES
It was proposed to a homeless person that he uses a sign with the message “0 likes”. | After explaining to José María the intention of the intervention, he kindly agrees to collaborate. After spending several hours with the sign, there was a significant increase in public attention and donations. By the end, he liked the sign and will use it next time.
TITLE:0 LIKES
YEAR: Madrid – Spain, 2013
IMAGE CREDIT: spy-urbanart.com
FLAGS
Installation of six flags displaying currency representations of banknotes from Russia, Arab Emirates, China, Japan, US and Europe.
TITLE:FLAGS
YEAR: Barcelona – Spain, 2017
IMAGE CREDIT: spy-urbanart.com
About The Artist
SpY is an urban artist whose first endeavours date back to the mid-eighties. Shortly after, already a national reference as a graffiti artist, he started to explore other forms of artistic communication in the street. His work involves the appropriation of urban elements through transformation or replication, commentary on urban reality, and the interference in its communicative codes.
