O processo de legitimação da arte urbana em meio as disputas pela estética da cidade de Belo Horizonte

Abstract

This study investigates the process of legitimizing urban art, a term used to encompass artistic disciplines such as graffiti, stencils, murals, posters, and stickers. Urban art is a common presence in the daily lives of large contemporary cities and can be found in various media, dimensions, and styles. It narrates and produces collective memories of and about the city. Its works accompany other works and reveal issues related to urban social life, such as the tension between economic classes, the invisibility of peripheral groups, and the struggle for recognition and representation. They also highlight the individual and collective daily experience in a public space. The issues that arise between the practice of urban art, the commodification of space, and public power result in a dispute over the aesthetics of the city. Urban aesthetics are shaped by several factors, including architecture, urban planning, social disputes, the market, and, of course, artistic interventions. In this context, urban art becomes both an aesthetic and a political aspect, transforming into a tool for social combat and representation. The main objective of this research is to analyze the legitimization process of urban art in Belo Horizonte and how it is inserted in the dispute over the aesthetics of the center of the capital of Minas Gerais. A qualitative and descriptive approach was adopted, carried out through bibliographical, documentary, and case study research, where the process of legitimization of urban art was analyzed, identifying the main agents involved and the challenges faced amidst the disputes over urban aesthetics.