Valencia, 2023: A mural in Valencia dares to communicate beyond its confines. “The Delirium of Juan Carlos I”, affectionately dubbed the “Juanca Wall”, stands not just as a piece of street art but as a bold critique against the actions of the powerful.

At the helm of this venture are two artists, Fasim and Mr. Kern. In the midst of Valencia’s scorching heat, they chose to depict Juan Carlos I, Spain’s ex-monarch and legal fugitive. The imagery is striking – a down-tempo human profile of the king, which for Fasim, instantly brought back the ex-monarch’s infamous statement: “I’m so sorry, it won’t happen again”. But beyond these words, the mural incorporates a hauntingly vivid representation of a real photograph – the king alongside a lifeless elephant.

Fasim, reminiscing about the moment he first saw that photograph, says, “I was terribly shocked by that image. It was a harsh reminder of the cruelty some indulge in under the guise of power and privilege. I promised myself then that there would be a day of artistic reckoning in honor of those noble creatures.”

The mural cleverly integrates the whimsical ‘pink elephants’ from Disney’s “Dumbo”. It’s not just for its aesthetically surreal appeal in bubblegum pink, but a layered metaphor – drawing parallels between the king’s questionable actions and the hallucinatory episodes of Dumbo and Timothy. The intent is crystal clear: to make the imagery evoke the unsettling hunting incident without a single spoken word.

Yet, brilliance often faces hurdles. Battling Valencia’s oppressive summer, the duo had limited resources, they tell us. The end result is a mural with a unique color palette and a message resonating loud and clear: “Juanca, you’re the King of scoundrels”.

This piece stands as more than just a mural; it’s a testament to audacity, wit, and the unyielding spirit of artists who dare to challenge the status quo. Through their artistry, certain narratives, no matter how powerful the figure, will always find a way into the light.

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