NationStates Jolt Archive

These murals are painted on the walls very visibly of the Denver International Airport. Proven Example here (http://www.airport-technology.com/projects/denver/denver3.html)

These are often cited in some wild conspiracy theories, but actually the symbolism is pretty interesting. They seem to be sequenced by events
World War
Disarmament
Miracelous Nature?

Note: These were specially commissioned by someone, these are not "Feature works" that the artist made. It was a team of artists that did it.
There were some recent controversy over censorship at the airport of 9/11 murals, while these murals are allowed "permanently"

AFTER POST THINKING EDIT:

I understand the symbolism now after posts.

The masked figure represents War in General.

The nations of the world (especially the contentious ones) are submitting to peace and disarmament. The masked figure laying on the ground below them is presumably symbolic of World War because of the 7 stars. Germany is participating in the peace process by banging the weapons into a ploughshare, a symbol of peace, and symbolizing those who did war before would lead peace today.

It is still a Pro-Globalization, Pro-Disarmament message. Which I am all for World Peace, personally, but this seems a bit political perhaps, but maybe not.

Then the other murals have environmental messages obviously, and involve mourning over extinct species as well as it seems persecuted peoples (In the picture with the girl with the Mayan tablet, and the kids carrying boxes of extinct species there are 3 coffins. In one is a African, in another a Native American, and in another is what appears to be a Jewish girl or a Jewish American girl it has been postulated.)

Most Interesting Image

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c193/athell/Airport/airport1.jpg

In this image that is connected to the previous it looks like the world disarms to a blond haired Aryan boy (Blond haired boy wearing German clothing) who bangs them into ploughshares AFTER-POSTING NOTE: A poster enlightened me that the ploughshare is an symbol of peace, even though I am familiar with symbolism I was blatantly unaware of this. And another poster has said this means that even those who caused war before would participate in peace-making.


http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c193/athell/Airport/merged.jpg

The two disarmament and war scenes put together (but they are on separate walls, they obviously form one work)

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c193/athell/Airport/airport2.jpg

In this image some great war in the world occurs, but it isnt a Nazi soldier but seems to be an overall generic soldier of some kind


http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c193/athell/Airport/airport7.jpg

Another image of the "war", the girl carrying the Mayan tablet below is in this image.



http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c193/athell/Airport/airport6.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c193/athell/Airport/airport4.jpg
There are 7 stars on the pauldron. There are only 6 star generals which are the highest ranking generals in a nation. So does this mean a World General?

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c193/athell/Airport/airport3.jpg


In this image the girl supposedly is holding a Mayan Tablet about the End of the World? (I less likely believe this but not sure

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c193/athell/Airport/airport8.gif

All the children of the world shown in the previous disarming one center around some miracelous plant.

The first picture has 'Israel disarms' and a circle around the flag of Croatia, and two others. However you can see both Israel and Palestine handing over guns in a later image.

The first picture has 'Israel disarms' and a circle around the flags of the former Yugoslavia. However you can see both Israel and Palestine handing over guns in a later image.

I corrected, I was the one circling it. But it is really bizarre.

That's not the Italian flag. It's the Irish flag. :rolleyes:

Wierd, I've never seen these...and I've been through Denver way too many times >_>
What terminal are they in?

That's not the Italian flag. It's the Irish flag. :rolleyes:

Quite right, the flag of the Republic anyhow.

That's not the Italian flag. It's the Irish flag. :rolleyes:You mean it's not the Mexican flag, it's the Irish flag.

The "Italian" one is the one circled on the right of the painting, and whatever it is, it's certainly not Italian, because that would necessitate for it to have a green stripe in there, not a blue one.

As far as I can see, there is no flag like the one on the right (http://www.photius.com/flags/vertical_blue_white_red_stripes.html) that has the vertical blue, red, and white stripes in that order. There are several that have the blue, white and red, in that order, though.
I'm guessing the artist meant for it to be the French one.

Wierd, I've never seen these...and I've been through Denver way too many times >_>
What terminal are they in?

Check out http://www.flydenver.com/guide/art/mural.asp?Page=1&picNum=0&artistNum=0

and http://www.airport-technology.com/projects/denver/denver3.html

Their there somewhere?

I love these murals. Everytime I ever go to the airport for anything--which admittedly happens all of maybe twice a year, if that--I always go see these murals first. They're simply wonderful pieces of art, and these photos don't do them justice.

You mean it's not the Mexican flag, it's the Irish flag.

The "Italian" one is the one circled on the right of the painting, and whatever it is, it's certainly not Italian, because that would necessitate for it to have a green stripe in there, not a blue one.

What are you on about? The circle with "GB and Italy" is on the left side of the picture.

As far as I can see, there is no flag like the one on the right (http://www.photius.com/flags/vertical_blue_white_red_stripes.html) that has the vertical blue, red, and white stripes in that order. There are several that have the blue, white and red, in that order, though.
I'm guessing the artist meant for it to be the French one.

I more believe the artist meant it to be a Russian flag, what with the girl's outfit bearing a striking resemblance to Russian folk dresses. It's not the French one, (s)he just got the Russian one wrong side up. (http://img.rian.ru/images/4119/25/41192506.jpg)

Check out http://www.flydenver.com/guide/art/mural.asp?Page=1&picNum=0&artistNum=0

and http://www.airport-technology.com/projects/denver/denver3.html

Their there somewhere?

I must go to the wrong part of the airport :P
The only art I remember seeing was a world map on the floor in front of the trams and a big plastic-gold jet.
Are they in the terminals, or outside of them? As much as I pass through Denver, I dont think I've ever actually left the terminals, usually Im running from one plane to another.

I love these murals. Everytime I ever go to the airport for anything--which admittedly happens all of maybe twice a year, if that--I always go see these murals first. They're simply wonderful pieces of art, and these photos don't do them justice.

What is the weird symbolism?

Why are the children of the nations of the world handing over their weapons to a blond headed boy (presumably Aryan) wearing a German outfit and turning them into plows (Nationalist symbolism)

I rarely notice art in an airport. I'm too busy trying to get to my next flight. And art generally is not near the gate - it's somewhere else in the airport where I don't hang out.

I more believe the artist meant it to be a Russian flag, what with the girl's outfit bearing a striking resemblance to Russian folk dresses. It's not the French one.

I'll have to agree with Fass (for once).
Note that the US flag is displayed vertically as well. If you turn the flags sideways you get Ruskies and Amerikanskies.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c193/athell/Airport/merged.jpg

The two disarmament and war scenes put together (but they are on separate walls, they obviously form one work)
I think the meaning of these two images is pretty clear: some day, Earth is going to be attacked by an army of giant, sword-wielding zombies who have rainbows coming out of their crotches. However, we won't be able to fight back because our idiot children will have destroyed all our weapons, so the human race will be subjugated and forced to lay down on conveyor belts which will lead off into the ocean.

I'll have to agree with Fass (for once).
Note that the US flag is displayed vertically as well. If you turn the flags sideways you get Ruskies and Amerikanskies.

So...Russia and America unite with the UK and Ireland to...take over the world with Mayan artifacts after toppling some wierd dude in a gas mask wierlding an AK and a scimitar?

Behold, for the future is a B-action movie!

That entirely misses the point and makes a joke

The nations of the world are DISARMING to a blond haired Aryan boy turning them into plows. Why a blond haired Aryan boy?

What is the weird symbolism?

Why are the children of the nations of the world handing over their weapons to a blond headed boy (presumably Aryan) wearing a German outfit and turning them into plows (Nationalist symbolism)

I'll be damned if I know. I just like the art.

What are you on about? The circle with "GB and Italy" is on the left side of the picture.Okay, now *I* am confused - as of the moment of this writing, the OP has changed the circles to "GB and Italy" on the left and "France and US" on the right.

However at the time of *your* writing (and later me taking a screenshot to show you "what I was on about") it was till very much "GB and Mexico" on the left and "US and Italy" on the right, as you can see. (http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l192/whereyouthinkyougoing/Image_edited.jpg)



I more believe the artist meant it to be a Russian flag, what with the girl's outfit bearing a striking resemblance to Russian folk dresses. It's not the French one, (s)he just got the Russian one wrong side up. (http://img.rian.ru/images/4119/25/41192506.jpg)She certainly has. But yeah, it makes much more sense than French.

Why are the children of the nations of the world handing over their weapons to a blond headed boy (presumably Aryan) wearing a German outfit and turning them into plows (Nationalist symbolism)

Oh, the ignorance... It has nothing to do with nationalist symbolism! God, you people - don't they teach you anything in schools? The ploughshare is a symbol of peace - it is a Biblical reference to Isaiah 4:2: "They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: the nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

That's why this statue (http://www.pubtheo.com/images/un-plowshares.jpg) is outside the freaking UN building.

I think the meaning of these two images is pretty clear: some day, Earth is going to be attacked by an army of giant, sword-wielding zombies who have rainbows coming out of their crotches. However, we won't be able to fight back because our idiot children will have destroyed all our weapons, so the human race will be subjugated and forced to lay down on conveyor belts which will lead off into the ocean.

I, for one, welcome our zombie overlo-...
Nah ;)

That entirely misses the point and makes a joke

The nations of the world are DISARMING to a blond haired Aryan boy turning them into plows. Why a blond haired Aryan boy?
Gah, he's faster than the speed of edit!

Maybe the artist just happened to like blondes?

What is the weird symbolism?

Why are the children of the nations of the world handing over their weapons to a blond headed boy (presumably Aryan) wearing a German outfit and turning them into plows (Nationalist symbolism)
Since when is turning arms into plows "Nationalist symbolism"?

Edit: I didn't know the English translation for the "swords into ploughshares" phrase but Fass has it in his post above.


That entirely misses the point and makes a joke

The nations of the world are DISARMING to a blond haired Aryan boy turning them into plows. Why a blond haired Aryan boy?
I would assume it to mean something along the lines of "and even some of history's most evil aggressors will share in world peace".
The worst of the former bad guys doing the smithing work, even.

Okay, now *I* am confused - as of the moment of this writing, the OP has changed the circles to "GB and Italy" on the left and "France and US" on the right.

However at the time of *your* writing (and later me taking a screenshot to show you "what I was on about") it was till very much "GB and Mexico" on the left and "US and Italy" on the right, as you can see. (http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l192/whereyouthinkyougoing/Image_edited.jpg)



She certainly has. But yeah, it makes much more sense than French.

I corrected it really quickly because I did not want to detract from the subject. I was tired and was paying more attention to the scene than the close flags.

Okay, now *I* am confused - as of the moment of this writing, the OP has changed the circles to "GB and Italy" on the left and "France and US" on the right.

However at the time of *your* writing (and later me taking a screenshot to show you "what I was on about") it was till very much "GB and Mexico" on the left and "US and Italy" on the right, as you can see. (http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l192/whereyouthinkyougoing/Image_edited.jpg)

Well, in any case, it is now all too apparent, what with the ignorance about flags (Israel? Those are the Croatian, Slovenian and the old Bosnian flags, for fuck's sake!) and ploughshares, why the OP is incapable of getting this mural's obvious message.

Oh, the ignorance... It has nothing to do with nationalist symbolism! God, you people - don't they teach you anything in schools? The ploughshare is a symbol of peace - it is a Biblical reference to Isaiah 4:2: "They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: the nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

That's why this statue (http://www.pubtheo.com/images/un-plowshares.jpg) is outside the freaking UN building.

Thank you, I was not aware actually. Very insightful. There is still the issue of why are all all nations disarming to a blond haired German boy, but it may be as the earlier poster said that "all nations will share in the peace" even those who perpetuated the last world war.

I am glad someone was able to reflect on the symbolism. Yes at casual glance I was very ignorant of the flag because I did not have the second picture (I thought it was Israel's flag). Then I looked closer at the flags and changed it.

Still some unusual symbolism, and to be commissioned for an airport. The mayan tablet is sort of starnge.

It is a Pro-Globalization, Pro-Disarmament message. Not necessarily negative, but the way it is done is strange. It is also Pro-Peace, which I am all for.


Thanks for the insight though!

Well, in any case, it is now all too apparent, what with the ignorance about flags (Israel? Those are the Croatian, Slovenian and the old Bosnian flags, for fuck's sake!) and ploughshares, why the OP is incapable of getting this mural's obvious message.Oops, I hadn't even looked at that. Awesome.

Be gentle, though. It's too late (early) to get all worked up.

Oops, I hadn't even looked at that. Awesome.

Be gentle, though. It's too late (early) to get all worked up.

It's too early not to get worked up. It's about this time of morning that I lose patience with that sort of thing.

It's too early not to get worked up. It's about this time of morning that I lose patience with that sort of thing.
Then go to bed. The OP was asking if someone could explain it to them, not postulating that they knew all about it.

In fact, we should both go to bed.

Then go to bed. The OP was asking if someone could explain it to them, not postulating that they knew all about it.

But still. This was so... soooooo uninformed... gaah!

In fact, we should both go to bed.

You're right.

I understand the symbolism now.

The masked figure represents War in General.

The nations of the world (especially the contentious ones) are submitting to peace and disarmament. The masked figure laying on the ground below them is presumably symbolic of World War because of the 7 stars. Germany is participating in the peace process symbolizing those who did war before would lead peace today.

It is still a Pro-Globalization, Pro-Disarmament message. Which I am all for World Peace, personally, but this seems a bit political perhaps, but maybe not.

Then the other murals have environmental messages obviously, and involve mourning over extinct species as well as it seems persecuted peoples (In the picture with the girl with the Mayan tablet, and the kids carrying boxes of extinct species there are 3 coffins. In one is a African, in another a Native American, and in another is what appears to be a Jewish girl or a Jewish American girl it has been postulated.)

They still seem "weird" to me in some strange ways.

Why put these huge murals in an airport. Then they have modified them over time (You won't see a city behind the kids with boxes and girl with a tablet now I do not think).

You're right.

You're still not sleeping.

Close the fucking window!

You're still not sleeping.

Close the fucking window!

Oh, pipe down. It's my insomnia and I'll vegetate if I want to.

its all a Jewish conspiracy! its obvious!









:p

They need a mural like this in the airport (http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a335/shaddamIV/dividebyzero.jpg)

http://k43.pbase.com/u40/halcyon_journey/large/26165452.imgp0549.jpg

This is from my favourite Metro station in Montreal, Berri-de-Montigny. Space-age psychedelic stained glass mural.

Most Interesting Image

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c193/athell/Airport/airport1.jpg


The Israeli flag is there, but on the right, with the Palestinian one.

The pairs in the foreground are Russia / US and UK / Ireland (green, white and orange is Ireland. Well, and Côte d'Ivoire when turned the other way round. You'd need red for Italy.)

I understand the symbolism now.

The masked figure represents War in General.

The nations of the world (especially the contentious ones) are submitting to peace and disarmament. The masked figure laying on the ground below them is presumably symbolic of World War because of the 7 stars. Germany is participating in the peace process symbolizing those who did war before would lead peace today.

It is still a Pro-Globalization, Pro-Disarmament message. Which I am all for World Peace, personally, but this seems a bit political perhaps, but maybe not.

Then the other murals have environmental messages obviously, and involve mourning over extinct species as well as it seems persecuted peoples (In the picture with the girl with the Mayan tablet, and the kids carrying boxes of extinct species there are 3 coffins. In one is a African, in another a Native American, and in another is what appears to be a Jewish girl or a Jewish American girl it has been postulated.)
There's probably the connection that we better stop now (disarmanent), or we all end in coffins (showing people of the African genocide, native American massacre and holcaust, presumably). Three of the bloodiest results of conflicts in human history.

There's probably the connection that we better stop now (disarmanent), or we all end in coffins (showing people of the African genocide, native American massacre and holcaust, presumably). Three of the bloodiest results of conflicts in human history.

Right. I think what creeps people out the most about it though is that it seems to the future so to speak, as if it was an prediction of the future of will happen just as much as it is a reflection of what has happened. This is sort of hinted at by the girl holding the Mayan Tablet, where she appears ominously between the girl and the boy holding the box. The artists seem to paint it where your eyes are drawn to that as the "center subject" even though it is not blatantly obvious.

It is rather creepy overall. There are some hidden things, though many artists do that. (The cub of the white panthers faces in that one mural are apparently human child-faces) Various little creatures and such throughout the murals.

It reflects some Pro-Globalization, Pro-Disarmanent viewpoints. Though I am all for world peace.