The #spanishrevolution is divided into camps and manifestations, on the web and in neighborhoods throughout the country – but it is also graphically visible. It’s the creative voices we saw on photos posted on social networks, consisting of bold slogans and innovative visualizations.
These unprecedented passionate graphics are mostly found on the web. Besides the official visualisations which are the most well-known (such as Nolesvotes, Juventudsinfuturo, ¡Democraciarealya!, and Toma la plaza!) and can be easily downloaded and printed for manifestations, there are also other initiatives on the web. Two projects are particularly striking in constructing the movement’s visual memory.
Voces con Futura (Editors note: The name is a play on words that designers will appreciate – futura is a type of font, but the phrase also indicates voices of the future) offers a selection of graphic posters. The project is sustained by a designer who lives abroad and prefers to remain anonymous “so that attention is on the posters, not people.” This idea is at the core of the project, as it’s specifically stated works will be published anonymously so the artist does not overshadow the initiative. Contacted in an email, she explains her reasoning:
As a Spanish expatriate and designer, I wanted to make myself useful to the movement. It seemed important to make creative works and communicate this movement graphically. Tumblr is an ideal tool for this sort of diffusion.
The next step is bringing the project to the international level. The guidelines have just been translated, and a call for graphic designers and translators was posted on the homepage.
The second noteworthy initiative is called the Spanish Revolution. It was founded by two young graphic designers Adrian Velez and Jorfe, who have recently graduated. They are convinced that “The world needs to change quickly,” and add:
Our goal was to create a place devoted to expression, for all those who have things to say in an artistic form. A place to vent our concerns, and our desire to scream to the world that we are tired of the system.
This project aggregates a greater range of visualisations. We also find many satirical comic strips, photos, and posters which are very graphic and similar to Voces con Futura.
El Jueves, a well-known satirical comic writer, has joined the ranks of photographers, writers, and designers who contribute to the project. The two founders did not expect this level of success, nor the support of Alex de la Iglesia, the director and president of the Spanish Film Academy. They spend much of their free time sorting, editing, and selecting the posters which arrive each day.
We have selected 30 posters from the two sites, which references movies, video games, well-known logos, and posters from past revolutions. The themes all reflect the political, economic, and social nature of the movement itself. It’s a movement with two faces on the Internet, which are inseparable and complementary.
(voces con futura)
References Gil Scott Heron and the article written by Malcom Gladwell, “Why the revolution will not be tweeted“ which was published in the New Yorker.
(voces con futura)
When politicians piss on us, the media says it is rain.
(blog spanishrevolution)
Those who resist relise their dreams.
(voces con futura)
Drawing representing a protest in Madrid #acampadasol
(blog spanishrevolution)
Zapatero searches for a way out of the crisis, with cries of: “Colder! Colder!”
(blog spanishrevolution)
Sorry for the disturbance, but we are in the process of changing the world.
(voces con futura)
“If you don’t know how to listen to the people, become a governor of Mordor.
“Eh! Hey! What the fuck! We don’t need to balance your morality, we’ve had enough of that with 30 years of dictators!”
(blog spanishrev)
Outraged!
(voces con futura)
“d’Hondt: If this is a democracy, let me participate.”
(voces con futura)
The Spanish vote counting system is called into question. The d’Hondt method calculates the ratio of votes to the number of seats in the assembly. Yet a second distribution provides additional seats which have a higher average, thus favoring bigger political parties.
“Democracy interrupted. Closed – Be back in four years.”
(voces con futura)
“Violence is paying people 600 euros.”
(voces con futura)
The minimum wage in Spain is around 650 euros.
“You are here to make a choice…”
“Choose what?”
“…Between two pills. One red, one blue “
“No!”
(blog spanishrevolution)
Reference to The Matrix movie. The pills represent the PP (the right-wing party) and the PSOE (the left-wing party).
“Hands in the air, this is a hold up! Decent work for everyone.”
(voces con futura)
Vote hope!
(voces con futura)
![]( "sparev-belmonte-orga")
- #15M
“You realise we can organize ourselves without them?”
“You realise they can organize themselves without us?”
(blog spanishrevolution)
We are more numerous.
(voces con futura)
“The same shit, a different smell.”
Zapatero: “I don’t understand, why aren’t they applauding us anymore ?”
Rajoy: “I don’t knozs Joche Louish. Maybe if we give them candy they’ll calm down”
Zapatero: “I’m scared, hold me Mariano”
Rajoy: You know, I never knew your shkin was sho shoft.
Zapatero: Is there nothing worse than feeling the end of one’s career? Oh hold me Mariano!
(blog spanishrevolution)
Represents the Socialist PM José Luis Zapatero (Left) and Mariano Rajoy, president of the Partido Popular (right).
The drawing especially mocks Mariano Rajoy (who has a lisp) and refers to a comment he made concerning increasing the VAT: “The VAT will increase the candy (los chuches) children buy!” His grammatical error (saying los chuches instead of las chuches) has been posted on YouTube.
System error (voces con futura)
#15M: Housing, retirement, unemployment, minimum welfare, mortgages, corruption, bankers.
(blog spanishrevolution)
Revolution is written with a #hashtag.
(voces con futura)
New dose of practicality, maximum efficiency in politics. I’s cleaning power gets through all the dirt.
(blog spanishrevolution)
1st drawing: “New revolution, new weapons.”
2nd drawing: “The no-no generation: No work, no housing, no retirement, no future.”
“No! Seriously? And now, where will I find a place to put all these diplomas?”
(blog spanishrevolution)
Not enough bread, too much chorizo.
This is a remix of the logo for the Santander Bank. Its head Emilio Botin is targeted by protesters as one of the people responsible for the country’s economic crisis.
(voces con futura)
Peaceful expulsion: The orders are clear – give them coffee with their beatings.
(blog spanishrevolution)
(blog spanishrevolution)
(blog spanishrevolution)
“Sorry Mario, but your democracy is in another castle.”
(blog spanishrevolution)
Reference to Nintendo’s Marioland.
#democraciarealya (A real democracy now)
#acampadasevilla (Camping in Seville city)
#setasrevueltas (Mushrooms returned)
System SOLaire
(voce con futura)
Posters can be downloaded on Spanish Revolution and Voces Con Futura.
