This stencil has been showing up all over Lima, a couple weeks before the election. The image is of Keiko Fujimori, presidential candidate. She is the daughter of Alberto Fujimori, and it is assumed that she would follow her father's policies and do whatever possible to overturn his criminal convictions on charges of human rights violations. While A. Fujimori was sentenced last year, there are still many people that consider themselves "Fujimoristas." Even apart from those that vow political allegiance, many consider Fujimori's crimes as measures that were legitimate and necessary in controlling the Shining Path Movement. K. Fujimori has stated that she would control delinquency in Lima the same way her father controlled communists in the mountains.
Ok, so let's get to talking about street signs! Obviously this image is really aesthetically pleasing and colorful. An apparent influence would be Andy Warhol, but it also draws from the fluorescent poster advertising cumbia concerts that are posted in public spaces from Lima to the smallest towns in Peru.
A central theme to Keiko's campaign is her solidarity with "the people." While most major avenues are crowded with giant pre-printed signs for a number of candidates, the Fujimoristas(Fuerza 2011) have always opted to paint public spaces with their propoganda. It's not rare to see entire hillsides in the outskirts of Lima scattered with walls painted "Keiko 2011" or other phrases promoting "China." However, the appearance of such street painting in more central areas is rare.
The painting of public spaces to promote political candidates at one time seemed really interesting to me. I considered it an opportunity to use public spaces to generate dialogue. But at the end of the day, I've come to see that this process is essentially a business. People get paid, and a paid teams come in and paint their property. Sure, sometimes the participants may also offer support, but I don't see it as a main motivator. Such images do not really represent civil participation, but rather a civil manipulation. It is not an expression of "the people," or even of an individual. " It's a power machine that takes what it wants and excludes who it pleases.
