egyptThe two posts I shared in Diigo this week were two similar articles on how street art became prominent across cities in Egypt. The first article is the from the Smithsonian by Waleed Rashed from May 2013, well after the beginning of the Egyptian revolution. In the article is showcases several Egyptian murals and slogans, that have been found in the streets of Cairo, Egypt. The author goes into some detail on the many different styles of the artists and their use of media, but all are a part of a social campaign for the Egyptian revolution. In many of the murals, the artists have incorporated Egyptian history, such as past Egyptian pharaohs, which is also mentioned in the second article in Diigo. The second article is from the BBC Culture section written by Alastair Sooke. In the article is mentions the beginning of the Egyptian street and how by the summer of 2011, people throughout Egypt were recognizing it as a part of their rebellion. In May of 2011, what was known as the  “Mad Graffiti Weekend” took place where two major murals painted. One was of a tank aiming its cannon at a boy on a bicycle who is balancing a platter of bread upon his head. This mural was painted and repainted several times to different events that occurred in Egypt such as the “Maspero Massacre”. Another reoccurring motif, is an image of a melancholy panda that appeared along the walls of Cairo. The panda is the expression of the people’s feelings of uncertainty about their freedom and the state of affairs throughout Egypt. Other murals integrate some of Egyptian’s history, such as the image above. Some of the artists who include their history into their art feel that is represents the since of pride; a pride in their heritage. Through art, the people of Egypt are able to express their concerns, thoughts, and protests in a more permanent manner that echo their strifes against the government.  girl power

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *