A new anti-war mural by the prominent street artist TVBoy in Barcelona’s Gràcia district was vandalised just hours after its completion, transforming a global message of peace into a flashpoint for local tensions over gentrification.

The artwork appeared on a boarded-up building at the corner of Plaça de la Virreina and Carrer de l’Or, a well-known square in the heart of the famously bohemian neighbourhood. The piece featured an unlikely symbol of peace: Punch, a Japanese macaque who became a viral sensation, depicted tenderly embracing a plush orangutan. Alongside the image, the artist painted the simple, direct message, “Stop Hate.”

However, the universal appeal of the mural was short-lived. According to a report by Tot Barcelona, someone quickly defaced the work by pasting a photograph over the anti-war slogan. The now-torn photo carried a pointedly local message written in Catalan: “ves a gentrificar a la casa seva,” which translates to “go gentrify in your own home.”

An Unlikely Symbol of Peace

The mural’s central figure, Punch, is a real monkey at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. After being abandoned by his mother shortly after his birth in 2023, zookeepers provided him with a plush IKEA orangutan for comfort. The macaque formed an inseparable bond with the toy, and images of the pair quickly went viral on social media, touching hearts around the world.

TVBoy, the Italian neo-pop artist Salvatore Benintende, repurposed this image of solace and companionship to comment on rising geopolitical tensions, specifically between the United States, Israel, and Iran. The “Stop Hate” message was a clear plea for de-escalation, a theme that resonates in a city that has seen protests against international conflicts.

A Counter-Protest Emerges

The act of vandalism shifted the conversation from international conflict to a fiercely debated local issue. Gràcia, once an independent town, boasts a renowned tight-knit community, artistic spirit, and vibrant festivals like the annual Sant Medir Festival. Its popularity, however, also makes it a focal point in discussions about over-tourism and gentrification.

As property values rise and international brands move in, many long-term residents and local businesses feel squeezed out. This pressure on the neighbourhood contributes to the ongoing crisis of historic shop closures across Barcelona. The vandal’s message suggests a view of TVBoy’s high-profile street art not as a genuine contribution to the community, but as another form of external influence contributing to the neighbourhood’s changing character.

TVBoy’s Provocative History in Barcelona

Salvatore Benintende is no stranger to stirring debate on the streets of Barcelona. He frequently uses the city as a canvas for his timely and often provocative pieces, which he documents on his official Instagram account. He is perhaps best known for his series of murals depicting unlikely pairs of political and cultural rivals kissing, including former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont with former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, and footballers Lionel Messi with Cristiano Ronaldo.

More recently, his work has taken on an explicitly political tone. A mural in Parc de Glòries celebrated the camaraderie of Spanish football stars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams ahead of the Euro 2024 final. Another piece saw the artist use the image of musician Bad Bunny to challenge Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policies, a theme he has explored in multiple works.

The rapid defacement of his latest work in Gràcia highlights a complex dynamic in the city. While the artist aimed to address a global crisis, the response was a stark reminder that on the streets of Barcelona, local battles for identity and space are often the most immediate and passionately fought.