The Catalan culture has a long history of (normally) very peaceful protest movements. The current independence movement being the most striking example. There may very well be an independent Catalan state within our generation.
Independence and Socialism. Manresa, Catalunya, 2013
Another example of this need to protest perceived injustices, is the “Okupa” movement. (For detail, see THIS LINK and scroll down to the section on Spain…or, try their actual Barcelona website HERE.) Imagine a group of youths moving in to large homes and apartments that had been sitting empty. The simple explanation might be, why do the banks and the rich keep such shelter empty when there are many unfortunates without a roof under which to sleep?
You may not agree with this general idea, but it is a strong movement and, most importantly, it doesn’t just stop at the notion of housing for the poor and marginalized–it extends also to many other perceived injustices in Spain’s consumer capitalist culture. (The Okupas are closely associated with the anarchists.) The building in this image may serve as one of the many Okupa social centers in Barcelona:
Occupy & Resist. Barcelona, 2013
Another minor (or major, depending on your perspective) protest broke out a few years ago in Barcelona when word got out that the City was contemplating the closure of Parc Güell and the charging of an admission fee. The Park has traditionally been open to the public, travelers, and residents (except for the museum house) and so this was an anathema to many.
Some felt that the Park was being overrun by too many tour buses, that there were too many foreigners selling cheap, made-in-China trinkets, that the place had turned into a very worn out and trampled zoo. Others feared the loss of freedom and openness a closure would cause. And where, exactly, would the money from ticket sales go? There was a healthy and not unreasonable fear of government corruption (or at least the diversion of funds to other projects).
It seems a compromise has been reached. Now, if you want to visit most of the Park’s acreage, including the spectacular viewpoint at the three crosses, you can, at no cost. However, if you wish to visit the plaza area of the Park (those beautiful mosaic benches, the unusual tilting columns, the entrance buildings, the famous lizard, etc.), then you will have to pay 7 or 8 Euros depending on your age (tourist and travel info HERE).
Now maybe you understand the significance of the following image, which depicts a small protest altar (symbolically using padlocks) near one of the upper entrances to the park.
Parc Güell Protest Altar. Barcelona, 2013
Finally, still on the subject of protests, there is a huge, awesome mural of a shark made of Euros (symbol of the USA, or western capitalism in general?) that has always caught my eye. It is located where the Carrer del Santuari passes over a high point just east of Parc Güell (you can get there following trails high and east of the Park).
This mural was apparently put up some years ago (2008) at the start of this past economic crisis, and the shark was pointedly oriented with its open, deadly mouth taking aim at some old leftist slogans, including the symbol of the defunct USSR (now barely visible). The creator was an Italian artist, BLU. This mural is fading fast (in this image, I have upped the contrast and saturation of the shark to make it stand out), so better get there soon if you still want to see it!
Blu’s Capitalist Shark. Barcelona, 2013
An interesting postscript: For a really bizarre, imaginative, and interesting wall painting animation done by BLU, check out this 7 1/2 minute YouTube video:
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