This is a Square

We’re in Madrid and it’s time for a short wander around a public square in the Lavapies district. Its name is keen to explain what it is: Esta es una Plaza.

This artistic and communal place was set up by a group of locals in around 2009. It is open on Sundays and sunny days! If you are close by on an appropriate day, be sure to pop in.

It’s not big, but it’s certainly worth some of your time. Feel free to simply explore, though you may have a chance to see film, join an art event or even learn how to repair your bike!

“They wanted to be bury us, they didn’t know that we are seeds”

There’s plenty of excellent street art on the old walls, which kept me very happy, though the above piece, one of my favourites, is not entirely cheerful. The phrase “Quisieron enterrarnos, no sabian que eramos semilla!” is a well-known Spanish phrase, much used by the Mexican counterculture in recent decades, and often referred to as a Mexican proverb. It seems, however, that its origins are Greek; the work of Greek poet, Dinos Christianopoulos, demonstrating the power of his literary works against the discrimination and exclusion he experienced for his homosexual erotic writings.

There’s even a piece of Roa’s work. On a recent trip to Brussels, I hunted for one that was on all the maps, but to no avail. However, Madrid did not disappoint!

It was a very short walk this week, I’m afraid, but I’ll leave you here to enjoy the shade, while I dash off to find some new places to wear out my shoe leather.

You’ll find the restful Esta es una Plaza at Dr. Fourquet 24, Madrid