How Protest Art Drives Social Change
Art has long been a tool for resistance from the graffiti of Banksy in Palestine, the protest poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz to Picasso’s Guernica, it is a powerful medium for expressing dissent, raising awareness, and inspiring change.
In recent years, this intersection has given rise to a distinct movement, “Artivism”= art + activism. Artivism uses creative and artistic methods of self-expression to denounce, cultivate awareness, and motivate change in society. Although various forms of artistic expression have long been used as forms of protest, the concept of artivism began to take shape in the early 2000s drawing inspiration from 20th century art forms like graffiti, situationism, and urban art.
Protest Art has manifested itself in various forms throughout history, from classic paintings to modern-day murals. Let’s take a look at how artists throughout time have used their work to challenge social and political norms.
Examples of Media Used as Protest
Following are some of the artworks that tell the story of their times:
1. The Scream by Edvard Munch (1893): expressionistic piece based on Munch’s actual experience of a panic attack depicting the universal existential dread of the modern man in the late 19th century.
2. Guernica by Pablo Picasso: An anti-war piece painted as an immediate reaction to the Nazi’s devastating casual bombing practice on the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
3. Jacob Lawrence, Soldiers and Students, 1962: In his painting, Lawrence artfully portrays the fear and outrage many felt during the desegregation of schools throughout the United States of America during the civil rights era.
4. Dandi March (Watercolour Painting by Nandalal Bose): This painting represents Mahatma Gandhi in the foreground and in the back are shown the seventy-nine people who marched alongside him during the Dandi March.
5. Mural for Gaza in Nairobi, Kenya: In March 2024, a group of artists in Kenya painted a mural showing resistance against the ongoing Genocide in Gaza.
6. ‘Untouchable with Dead Cow II’ by Savinder Sawarkar: The untouchable carrying the dead cow slung on his shoulders reveals the enormous weight of institutionalized Hinduism and is a powerful commentary on caste system.
7. Anti-Asian Hate Protest Art: Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya’s “I Still Believe In Our City” public art series, created in partnership with the NYC Commission on Human Rights, portrayed the rightful claim asian-americans had on their land.
Does Art Really Change the World We Live In?
Art speaks to us in a way that it can inspire real action and provoke dialogue about pressing issues such as poverty, racism, casteism and gender inequality with its powerful visuals. Whether it’s photography, sculpture, painting or mixed media, art as protest is cathartic and empowering for both artists and audiences.
In fact, Street Art like murals and graffiti are potent forms of grassroots activism and have become symbols of resistance and social commentary.
CTRL+Z TAKEAWAYS
Art is not just limited to traditional galleries or museums and it doesn’t just exist for aesthetics or beauty, but also has a much deeper purpose.
We believe that contemporary art has the power to end modern problems like gender inequality, racism, queerphobia and xenophobia etc. In a dark world that seems divided on everything, art is our shared humanity built on values of empathy and compassion.
What type of art speaks to you? How can you use your gift to help drive change in society? These artists have shown us the way we can own our truth and demand for a better world.
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