Art as a Form of Resistance: The role of Graffiti in Middle Eastern Society
By Molly Briguglio
Graffiti is an art form known for its defiance. Originating in Ancient Rome, individuals often wrote protest poems and portrayed their opinions of current political figures on buildings that could be readily seen. This is a common theme in present-day graffiti, or ‘street art’. It usually serves a specific purpose. This purpose depends on the artist. We often see graffiti today as a tool to show support or resistance to current events in society. Because of this, street art arises most often during times of unrest. This has been especially true throughout large political campaigns in the Middle East. An organization known as ‘Kesh Malek’ in Syria, has used graffiti as a method of highlighting and advocating for Syrian voices.
According to ‘Kesh Malek’, they hope to use graffiti as a way of uniting Syrians with others around the world through showcasing humor and unique art. Their name translates to ‘checkmate’, the ending position in chess where a player’s king is threatened with no other possible moves. This speaks to their goals as an organization. Behind the humor and bright colors, displays a message of opposition and defiance towards Syria’s current regime. The identities of these artists participating in these art movements are typically kept secret for their safety, due to the dangerous nature of speaking out against certain governments. Being a street artist takes both talent and courage. Let’s take a look at two of the most prominent and courageous street artists of our time.
Ganzeer
Ganzeer is an Egyptian street artist who gained popularity following the events of the Arab Spring in 2011. He is most known for his mural that depicts a large army tank gunning down an unaccompanied bicyclist. This mural spoke out against the severe force and violence used by the military against Egyptians protesting in Tahrir Square. He was eventually forced out of Egypt when the government publicly accused him of being a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and now currently resides in the United States. He no longer creates the graffiti he made in Egypt and turns down offers to do. He says “I don’t see the point of placing this work in a New York gallery for rich people to buy, the work I did was in Egypt for Egyptians.”
A painting of a man riding his bicycle while carrying bread while an armored tank takes aim.
A mural depicting a little girl strip-searching a soldier, which juxtaposes the use of force and vulnerability, which Ganzeer hoped to force the attention and pondering of passersby.
Laila Ajjawi
Laila Ajjawi uses her graffiti skills to show that no matter your gender, you can make waves in society. Ajjawi lives in Irbid, Jordan and creates art as a way to shed light on women’s rights issues in her country. Despite its high percentages of educated women, Jordan still faces one of the lowest rates of women in the workforce in the entire world. Ajjawi typically paints a character whose story is one that many women can relate to. Her murals take on a variety of topics, from Jordanian politics to romance. Overall, Ajjawi hopes to inspire women and girls in her neighborhood to be "decision makers" in their lives as well as discredit society's expectations for a women’s role in the workforce.
A mural by Ajjawi which says “Education is a Right”, emphasizing womens’ entitlement to learning.
“Look at my mind” is a piece that encourages others to focus on one’s inner beauty rather than their physical appearance.
Conclusion
Graffiti takes on the life of the artist. It is diverse and distinct in every community it enters. It remains diverse in both its image, as well as its substance. Not only is graffiti created to inform the masses, but to inspire them as well. Despite its ancient roots, graffiti speaks a language that young and upcoming generations understand. Fortunately, street artists are able to share their art on platforms like Instagram and Twitter, so anyone can appreciate and support the work of street artists across the world!