The Denver International Airport Conspiracy
On the surface, the Denver International Airport seems as if it is nothing out of the ordinary, as it is just an airport. However, what if there was something more sinister beneath the surface? It is suggested that the art within the Denver International Airport hides a more deeper, satanic meaning than what may just be thought of as a mural to others. Two main theories reveal themselves:
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The art does hold a dark, demonic background.
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The art has been misinterpreted by the viewers.
Is the art truly a symbol of something more threatening? Or, is it just misunderstood? Let’s go over the factual evidence to find the true meaning and intentions behind the art inside of the Denver International Airport.
Analysis over Leo Tanguma
Leo Tanguma, a Chicano muralist who is now eighty-five, is the artist behind the murals inside Denver International Airport (Gillespie and Franco 1). Tanguma is a thoughtful artist, as shown through the meanings of his artwork and the issues he highlights. Tanguma emphasizes the struggles of inequality and violence among minorities, children, women, and other excluded groups (“The True Story behind the Conspiracy-Ridden Murals at DenverInternational Airport” 1). In an interview with PBS, Tanguma states, “I think there is a certain innocence among the oppressed, among the people that are uneducated, that don’t have access, practically, to life” (“The True Story behind the Conspiracy-Ridden Murals at DenverInternational Airport” 1). The quote shows how he views these minorities, particularly children, as deserving of opportunities and attention. Murals made by Tanguma featuring children suffering in times of war further push his selflessness as he highlights their experiences, rather than the war itself (“The True Story behind the Conspiracy-Ridden Murals at DenverInternational Airport” 1). In addition, Tanguma’s own experiences with younger generations has influenced his artwork, as he has stated, “On more than one occasion, I have been approached by middle-aged persons who have said to me “Do you remember me? I painted with you in Arvada Middle School” (Gillespie and Franco 1). This quote shows how his thoughtfulness has come from real-life events, not just from his own artistic ideas. Tanguma’s concentration on preserving the safety and innocence of victimized groups reveals that he is incredibly thoughtful and passionate in his artwork.
In addition to being thoughtful, Leo Tanguma is also an advocate for social justice. Tanguma’s murals are beautiful and expressive art pieces, but they also dive into heavy topics such as environmental destruction, warfare, and politics (Harvey 1). Writer Austin Harvey explains, “...Leo Tanguma, says that his artwork is meant to represent the tragedy of warfare and destroyed environments– and the hope for a more peaceful future and the possibility that nature could be rehabilitated and celebrated again,” (Harvey 1). This displays Tanguma’s commitment to using his talent for spreading awareness on injustices and striving for change. In one of Tanguma’s murals, Children of the World Dream of Peace, it illustrates the changes under war, showing both the horrid start and the peaceful ending (“Children of the World Dream of Peace” 1). The mural expresses the positives of change and how through change we can flourish as a community. The article states, "'Children of the World Dream of Peace’ is a powerful mural expressing the artist’s desire to abolish violence in society,” (“Children of the World Dream of Peace” 1). This quote and Tanguma’s idea of removing hate from the world reveal his goal of wanting to change humanity for the better through his art.
Leo Tanguma is a thoughtful artist driven by doing better for society. His artwork is not meant to just be visually pleasing, but is meant to have a message that will continue to change humanity for the greater good. Through his murals, Tanguma proves how anyone can use art to show compassion and advocate for justice.
A picture of the mural Children of the World Dream of Peace by Leo Tanguma.
Photo Credit:
Innovation on Earth
Conspiracies Explained
The art inside the Denver International Airport has sparked several controversies over time. Two main theories are presented from these conspiracies, one being that the art holds a dark and demonic meaning, and the other being that the art is misinterpreted by viewers and has no negative connotations. While some may align with the belief that the art is sinister, evidence and the artists themselves prove that the art was not meant to be interpreted as ‘evil’. Instead, the artwork was created to promote peace and influence audiences to positively change the world (“Children of the World Dream of Peace” 1).
The first theory, that the art is of a satanic origin, is a belief held by numerous theorists who hold suspicion against the murals and structures. Theorists with this point-of-view often try to point to the murals depicting war and soldiers with the suffering of children or the artwork showcasing the destruction of the environment (“The Enigmatic Murals of Denver International Airport: Art, Controversy, and Conspiracy” 1). It is taken as messages of hidden control and seen negatively. The article explains, “The murals became additional “evidence” in elaborate conspiracy narratives (“The Enigmatic Murals of Denver International Airport: Art, Controversy, and Conspiracy” 1). Some theorists claim the murals reveal plans for a New World Order, with the gas-masked soldier representing totalitarian global government,” (“The Enigmatic Murals of Denver International Airport: Art, Controversy, and Conspiracy” 1). However, these claims heavily focus on the negative aspects of the murals and do not take into account the artist’s intent. The violence seen in the art can most definitely be taken out of context at times, twisting the true message and leading to beliefs of a destructive, governmental takeover.
The second theory is that the art has been misinterpreted by the viewers, rather than purposefully being designed to convey dark, political messages. Artist Leo Tanguma painted these murals to show the positive, changing process from violence and hate to hope for a better world (“Children of the World Dream of Peace” 1). Author Robert Pyne addresses Tanguma’s idea of this process where he states, “In reality, the murals were painted by artist Leo Tanguma and meant as a call for peace and care for the planet. Pictures that some read as “evil” are simply artistic scenes meant to make people think about important social issues like caring for the earth or ending violence,” (Pyne 1) This quote helps show that the murals were made to spread awareness on global issues such as war and environmental disruptions, and to hopefully encourage the audience to change the world. Although some people took the art as threats to their freedom, it was only meant to uplift humanity for the better. When looking at the murals from the artist’s perspective, the true meaning comes to light.
Looking over both theories, it is evident that the second theory is more clearly supported with evidence. The first theory is mainly supported by panic and fear of an evil uprising that has no true roots to draw back to. However, the misunderstanding can be seen through a lack of information and lack of research. Tanguma’s idea to end the murals with peace directly shows that they were never meant to be of evil origin in the first place, and therefore disproves the first theory (“Children of the World Dream of Peace” 1). Looking at the art inside the Denver International Airport may seem as if it has a dark meaning, but when the true meaning is understood it is seen that the art promotes peace and change not global control.