Virolat’s first Ordino edition: 13 muralists and a biosphere theme

Reports published on Friday, October 16 described Ordino's third Virolat graffiti and urban art festival taking place that weekend, with 13 national and international artists painting murals inspired by the biosphere reserve. It was the first edition hosted by the parish.

Organisers described a programme combining live painting with workshops, concerts, rap battles, DJ sessions, a roundtable discussion and an art market. A guided tour of the finished murals was scheduled to close the festival. The reports said activities were going ahead despite a rainy forecast, with the Muna hall designated as an alternative venue if the weather deteriorated.

Mònica Armengol, the Comú's culture councillor, said the parish was pleased to host the event. Organisers had proposed two possible themes, she said, and the biosphere reserve was chosen because it seemed well suited to a first edition in Ordino and likely to resonate locally.

Festival director and organiser Andrea Camp expressed satisfaction with the reception and the diversity of styles already on display, noting that the space is larger than in previous years. She described graffiti as a form of artistic expression that goes beyond vandalism and allows people to "reclaim the street," making art accessible to everyone.

Camp also stressed the need to distinguish vandalism from authorised artistic work, which she said are sometimes confused. She noted that while some graffiti is vandalism, a growing share is produced legally and is increasingly being encouraged.

Armengol agreed, saying that unauthorised graffiti carried out as an act of vandalism, with no intention behind it, must be pursued under existing laws and rules. But she added that graffiti itself is a creative space and an expressive technique, comparable to music or any other artistic discipline.

Beyond its artistic dimension, the Virolat seeks to promote the street as a space for young people to meet and express themselves. Camp argued that constant use of mobile devices makes it necessary to encourage activities that foster in-person participation and relationships between people. While acknowledging that social media are part of today's reality, she said they are also a useful tool for spreading art.

The festival thus combines the promotion of urban art with awareness-raising around the biosphere reserve and the defence of public space as an environment for creativity, coexistence and civic participation.