Madeleine McCann: But It Is Art
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
SHOWBIZ IRELAND: “Madeleine McCann Graffiti Child Star…”
It’s one year on since missing child Madeleine McCann was snatched from a holiday apartment in Portugal. Since then, there has hardly been a day that she hasn’t been in a newspaper or on the TV. Such has been the worldwide circulation of her photograph that her image has reached iconic status, tragically for all the wrong reasons…
Oh?
As we headed from one gig to another in South Dublin at the weekend, we happened by some plywood hoarding covered in graffiti, and one striking image immediately stood out… It was the spray-painted face of missing child Madeleine McCann with the words: “CHILD STAR” stencilled [sic] above it in black…
What to do?
Initially repulsed, at first we thought it unnecessary and in very bad taste considering the nature and sensitivity of the case. Then again, isn’t all graffiti unnecessary and tasteless? But there are some graffiti artists out there like Banksy who use the urban medium as canvas to express their Art and ultimately make their statements.
Yeah, f*ck it. It’s probably art, and if you ignore it you risk looking like an ingrate.
Looking at this graffiti again, it could be interpreted that the ‘Artist’ in this case is making a controversial statement about the nature of the media and using the face of Maddie to illustrate just how rapidly fame and stardom can be achieved. Even if, as in Madeleine’s case, it’s completely for the wrong reasons… Wouldn’t we all prefer if she’d remained totally anonymous but remained in the protective arms of her family?
Course we would. Then the media could write about something else, like dolphins, flowers and EastEnders like in the good old days.
…Her familiar face has now reached millions of households worldwide, due to the media, and become almost Warholian in iconic status. This IS a good thing irregardless of taste. All it takes is one person to recognise her somewhere in the world and she could be home tomorrow…
Get spraying…

June 10th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Ist! X
June 10th, 2008 at 6:57 am
It emphasises the photo that always spoke of grief to me.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:08 am
There is something macabre about making your own spray-on version of M’s picture when the photo itself is mre life-like.
But then the artist who has sprayed this may be using it as a way to convey to people that M is not alive and life-like - but haunting her parents and us … maybe?!
June 10th, 2008 at 7:17 am
I hope that the PJ step in before we have to go through the Strasbourg carnival! My nerves can’t stand anymore.
Working from home today so just hoping that there is some movement.
I wish Philly was busting out of my tv telling us as it is. She has been the only totally truthful person in this whole saga.
She may not know it but her hearsay and consequent contradictions and media pick-ups could be absolutely crucial.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:28 am
It’s one year on since missing child Madeleine McCann was snatched from a holiday apartment in Portugal.
Snatched from a holiday apartment??? That’s the understatement of the year!! More like snatched from her life! The shame of these parents - how do they sleep? How do they eat? How do they ……do all the basic things in life that most folks do in a relaxed, unparanoid manner?? How can they be alone with themselves?? How can they sit still in theatre?? How can they enjoy a sunset?? A snowstorm?? Or listen to beautiful music on the car radio?? How can they eat cake ever again?? When they close their eyes at night, who do they see?? What do they dream about?? What do the voices in their head tell them?? Are they loud like fire engine whistles?? Or screeching like breaks on a car driving at 90 miles an hour coming to a quick halt?? How do they live with the demons in their heads? The money in their bankaccounts, given to them for when Madeleine was “snatched” from their lives…..how do they spend it?? Shamelessly taking money from tabloids who dare to tell the truth, to insinuate that the truth should be revealed, that the parents know the truth. Accepting money in a setttlement that will never be settled…..not in their lifetime….the money keeps pouring in but the screams got louder and louder in their heads; the dreams get darker and darker, the days get longer and longer, the mouths are always dry, the skin is itchy and red, the scratching never goes away, the discomfort levels rise with each new influx of money. The guilt, the shame, the stomach pains, the secret bedtime whispers, when no one but just the two of them are in there, no one but the two of them, to confide in no one, discuss with no one, til the lights are off, and the room is dark and she slowly moves closer to him in the bed, “Gerry, I’m scared…..I know they will find us out. What should we do? What can we do? I afraid…..I need to hear you say it will be OK. I dream of her every night. She calls “mummy, mummy….why have you forsaken me” …..”mummy, mummy, why did you let me cry?” mummy, mummy, I was too young to die”…..
[dr - that last is conjecture. There is no evidence that Madeleine is dead. The absence of a body is also consistent with her still being alive]
June 10th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Good morning
The world of no news
Never mind
Madeleine will remain missing and the mccanns arguidos
June 10th, 2008 at 8:05 am
“McCanns to fight neglect charges”
WHY?
IF……..
……… they did everything within the bounds of reasonable parenting. They vigorously deny the neglect charges.” Kate and Gerry are both still arguidos, official suspects in the investigation.”
There will be news soon
June 10th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Also read the article in english
http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/
Gone
M and A
There is a link for the English version right at the far end
June 10th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Jo
Thanks - could someone PLEEZ translate that ?
June 10th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Hi Coco our favourite , agreed wish the PJ would move fast, my nerves also going.
Mrs B. Jo how are you can;t stay please translate for us - keep up sleuthing, good girl !
will look in later.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Paddy O’Graciously Says:
June 10th, 2008 at 7:28 am
It’s one year on since missing child Madeleine McCann was snatched from a holiday apartment in Portugal.
Snatched from a holiday apartment??? That’s the understatement of the year!! More like snatched from her life! The shame of these parents - how do they sleep? How do they eat? How do they ……do all the basic things in life that most folks do in a relaxed, unparanoid manner?? How can they be alone with themselves?? How can they sit still in theatre?? How can they enjoy a sunset?? A snowstorm?? Or listen to beautiful music on the car radio?? How can they eat cake ever again?? When they close their eyes at night, who do they see?? What do they dream about?? What do the voices in their head tell them?? Are they loud like fire engine whistles?? Or screeching like breaks on a car driving at 90 miles an hour coming to a quick halt?? How do they live with the demons in their heads? The money in their bankaccounts, given to them for when Madeleine was “snatched” from their lives…..how do they spend it?? Shamelessly taking money from tabloids who dare to tell the truth, to insinuate that the truth should be revealed, that the parents know the truth. Accepting money in a setttlement that will never be settled…..not in their lifetime….the money keeps pouring in but the screams got louder and louder in their heads; the dreams get darker and darker, the days get longer and longer, the mouths are always dry, the skin is itchy and red, the scratching never goes away, the discomfort levels rise with each new influx of money. The guilt, the shame, the stomach pains, the secret bedtime whispers, when no one but just the two of them are in there, no one but the two of them, to confide in no one, discuss with no one, til the lights are off, and the room is dark and she slowly moves closer to him in the bed, “Gerry, I’m scared…..I know they will find us out. What should we do? What can we do? I afraid…..I need to hear you say it will be OK. I dream of her every night. She calls “mummy, mummy….why have you forsaken me” …..”mummy, mummy, why did you let me cry?” mummy, mummy, I was too young to die”…..
_______________________________________________________
WOW - I’m impressed. You know all that!!
Well it would be a cinch for you to tell me who the man in the picture is. I await your reply with anticipation.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:07 am
9
Tracy Knysna
On the site there is an english link but here you are
http://gazetadigitalmadeleinecase.blogspot.com/2008/06/uk-ambassador-denies-contacts-between.html
June 10th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Gone to work now

Watching them
Byeeeee xxxxx
June 10th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Oh good… Paddy O’G a Spinner of bedroom fantasies.
Anorak…The news site with fictional Opinion.
That’ll make us the envy of the written world.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:13 am
morning
goodness paddy!!!
June 10th, 2008 at 9:15 am
5
Jaysus Paddy!
It must have taken yers orl noight to think up that load of self-righteous old cobblers!
Mic(k)
June 10th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Thanks Jo!!
M&A Urgh…. he is back!!!
June 10th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Morning folks
‘CHILDSTAR Madeleine as street art
imo an ironical title for the absurd crossovers from fact (and nonfact) to art and fiction
Could it be art representing Bob Dylan’s creative crossover?
‘How does it feel, How does it feel,To be without a home,Like a complete unknown (KNOWN) Like a rolling stone?’ With No Nonstone Turned?
Or the Irish streetart of Poptart Bono another cross-creative?
Not likely
Who banksy money in ‘childstar’ Madeleine street art?
Is it art for art sake? is it art at all?
June 10th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Horrid isn’t it, that a missing child is so famous. For a spray painting, it is definitely of Madeleine. Maybe this will get back at the parents in some way. Could be that the painter thinks Maddie may come back some day!
M and A
Lyn, given that she’s a year older it surprises me that the some of the fund isn’t being used to ‘change’ her appearance to see how she could look now. Descriptions of average height and weight, and a slightly less babyish face. Maybe subtle changes, but real
June 10th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Yeah well, last year around mid-September in Brick Lane there were some cheap bill posters with Maddy’s picture and a white caption above saying Bored.
Some local art studio getting attention while commenting even more controversially about the media and society.
That’s what happens when you put you or your child up there in such a manner, hubris etc, yawn, but not very new, anyway.
What’s even more shocking is if anyone tries to make any more sympathetic capital out of it in the media, like with that article as the McCann assault on/via the Irish media continues…
The attempts to bury the bad news get weaker and weaker it seems…
June 10th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Lawener said:
__________
Well it would be a cinch for you to tell me who the man in the picture is. I await your reply with anticipation.
__________
I wonder could he be the mysterious Mr Wainwright?
June 10th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Mods & Admin
What a good thought. Never thought of that one. Madeleiene of course will be a year older and kids change a lot. Maybe she would have darker hair too. It is a wonder the forensic people haven’t done some work with her last photo, to bring her up to date, like is done with missing people files on TV. Wonder too, how much is still in the fund now!
June 10th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Good morning all !!
Off topic…but lots of great action pics of Euro 2008 here…
http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/photos/index.html
….added to daily also.
Soccer fans…enjoy.
M and A
Matt there is a Euro 2008 thread, I have also posted it there, thanks
June 10th, 2008 at 11:36 am
22
lyn Says:
June 10th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Wonder too, how much is still in the fund now!
____________
Which one? The one the public gets to see?
June 10th, 2008 at 11:38 am
There is a picture of what Madeleine McCann might look like now.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-508004/Madeleine-months-FBI-expert-shows-missing-4-year-old-look-now.html
June 10th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Correio da Manhã yesterday published that the coast of Algarve is full of sharks.
I thought of Madeleine although I don’t believe she is in the sea.
People would have recognized the parents or another Englishman on a boat, after the noise the McCanns made with her disappearence.
She is possibly buried somewhere, I hope.
Not throungh in the sea, like garbage.
Oh, I hope the parents will never find peace
Maravilha there is no proof she is dead. jj
June 10th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
26 moderation of my text 26,
if Madeleine is dead, I believe she has been buried somewhere.
M and A
But it has to be proved,and also unnamed suspect(s) charged
June 10th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I hate to say this being so Pro Anorak, but the discussions on the Skye Life Of Crime blogs are more interesting at the moment….
M and A
Its awfully quiet here , but the weather is good. It’ll improve
June 10th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Tracy
Also some people are blocked and it’s exam/holiday time and I think the McCanns are looking a bit pathetic and that makes us less affronted and less likely to sound off about them.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Tapas 10,
I just read in a Spanish publication that Gerry communicated with a not identified number on May the 2nd. (14 times)
And twice with the same number the day after the disappearence.
The person of this number could be Tapas 10, according to the text.
I don’t believe this number has a relation with Madeleine.
At least it did not have the day before she disappeared, when everything was still ok.
I think those 14 calls on June the 2nd were a coincidence.
We even don’t know if the calls were made inside Portugal.