Banners and the 2011 Madrid Protest Camp: Reading the Signs of Revolt
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Author: Julia Ramirez Blanco
Acampadasol, Madrid, 15 May-12 June, 2011. Photograph by Julio Albarrán CC
In May 2011, Madrid’s protest camp became the first Western example in the wave of protest camps that would occupy central squares of cities all around the world. This settlement was named #Acampadasol [Suncamp] on Twitter, because of its occupation of the Puerta del Sol [Gate of the Sun], one of Madrid’s emblematic centres. The square, turned for a while into an intentional community of activists, was populated by a heterogeneous and changing crowd. In pure DIY style, they built a complex structure of grassroots urbanism, demonstrating how an alternative society might look.
Between May 15 and June 12, the square became a site of collective creativity. One of the main activities involved the continuous production of self-made banners and placards. Exhibited in the square, they contributed to the reclaiming and re-symbolising of the space. Although banner-making took place all around the square, a Graphic and Visual Arts Committee worked systematically to create banners and other symbolic elements for display.
Taken together there was such an excess of these items that many were never displayed in the square and ended up being given directly to an Archive working group.
Audiovisual Archive stall in the square. Photograph by Julia Ramírez Blanco
On May 20, an Audiovisual Archive put up its own stall, asking for materials related to this encampment. It became known as Archivo 15M, the 15M Archive.
By documenting what was happening at the very moment that it was taking place, history became a work in process. During the camp, working groups and committees donated the materials that they no longer needed. When the Acampadasol was dismantled on June 12, the 15M Archive collected all the remaining banners, placards and other objects, and has continued to work with them during the following years.
The 15M Archive works through self-organization and is self-financed by its members. Its functioning is horizontal and decisions are taken through assemblies based on consensus. It is not just an archive about activism, but also an activist archive, part of the 15M social movement that grew out of the camp.
Reverse side of placard made from papers inside plastic folders. The different pieces of paper are held straight by a stick and duct tape. Archivo 15M. CC
Montage of various banners. Montage by Marco Godoy. Archivo 15M. CC.
Montage by Julia Ramírez Blanco.
For the full original blog post see: Banners and the 2011 Madrid Protest Camp: Reading the Signs of Revolt
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