Monday, January 18, 2010

Graffiti Online

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Lately there has been an emergence of sites such as Graffiti PlayDo, which offer would be graffiti artists and ‘vandals’ the opportunity to create street art indoors, from their computers.
The basic premise of the site is pretty simple. As soon as you enter, you put in a name, so you can be whoever you want to be while you do your art. It’s basically to distinguish you from the other artists, and if you’re good enough, you can end up being featured on a wall. That’s a big ‘if’ though.
Then you choose a ‘scene’. This is the fun part. There are four public rooms where you paint with others users. These are called ‘Public room’, where basically anyone can play, and then there are more specific rooms: ‘Old School’ ‘Serious Art’ and ‘No Rules’. In here you can paint whatever you want with aerosol cans. You get a bunch of different colours and spray sizes, as well as shapes such as hearts and starts. (See below) Mucking about in these rooms is fun, you get to see other artists at work, and you contribute to some pretty good looking stuff. My only gripe is that the other artists can rub out your art with their handy dandy cloth tool, which can really get annoying.
However, if you’re not so socially inclined, or actually wanna finish a piece without interruption, you can choose a private room, which you can name anything you want. Again, you can paint whatever you want, this time without interruptions, and your work stays in one piece. I think it goes without saying that this is my favourite room. So, because I like embarrassing myself, here are two screenshots of some art that I did. First attempts, don't laugh. Well, try not to at any rate.

My first two attempts. Yeah, the second isnt much better, and possibly less creative than the first one. I told you it was bad.
So, basically, this site is a good way to get all your creative energy out, without going outside and drawing on the side of someone’s house, and potentially getting arrested. Coz, really, we don’t want that happening.
So, go and paint till your hearts content, and don’t break any laws while you’re at it. I can almost guarantee that anything you paint will be better than mine.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Manual Ocampo - Artist or Trash?

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Hey Everyone,
Have a look at this collection of paintings done by Filipino Artist, Manuel Ocampo.


Manuel Ocampo  (born 1965) is an artist from the poor yet Westernised nation of Philippines. His style of art as a Filipino uses alot of Hispanic or Baroque religious iconography. I remember from my trip in Philippines that Roman Catholic religious art is everywhere over there - a legacy left from 300 or so years of colonisation and Christianization by the Spaniards. He also uses alot of symbols of modern culture as well and mixes them in his works with the Christian symbols to create highly politicized, dark, cynical messages and concepts behind them - creating a confronting surrealist world which reflects our own. He comments on the decadence of American culture, the corruption and abuse of the Catholic Church in Philippines and the notion of white supremacy and submission to white ideology which Filipinos have accepted into their psyche after hundreds of years of being corruptingly controlled by Spanish colonialists and than American colonialists. He deeply explores in his art despite the fact that Filipinos are free from colonial rule - colonialism is still deeply rooted in the Filipino status quo and that Filipinos aren't truly free. Futhermore, Ocampo explores darker and sinister aspects about life, art and anything in general. He is truly an inspiring and genius artist and I believe his art deserves to be commended in his own country where he is virtually unknown but is known internationally.

Even though, Ocampo's art contains a strong anti-religious sentiment, Ocampo maintains residence in his home nation of Philippines - in the poor city of Quezon City.


Billy Woodberry, a Filmmaker in an interview comments on Ocampo work says:
"There was something in his craft that evoked a haunting. His works seemed to portray the fallout of the spiritual damage of the Latin American colonized headspace. I was immediately drawn to the power of it. At the same time, Ocampo was undermining the seriousness of the subject matter with a cheeky, playful, irreverent, rude take on race in America that the art world has always treated as so sacrosanct. On the one hand he was laying down some heavy shamanism and on the other he was undermining it – and all in the same strokes. This was really refreshing for me."
 Do you agree with Woodberry? What do you think of Ocampo's art? Do you think he needs to be commended in his nation of Philippines?
That's all for today folks!
Peace out. Make Art Not War.

Huang Yong Ping

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Hey Everyone, 


Before you go on reading watch this video about Huang Yong Ping - a Chinese French Artist.





Pretty amazing stuff eh? Do you think his art is beautiful?
However, much of his art even though admired by the West is contentious in his home nation of China and much of his work if exhibited in China is usually banished by the Chinese Government due to it's highly political nature and anti-government sentiment. What do you think? Do you think that he should have freedom to exhibit his art in his homeland and not face any censorship at all? I think so but i'm really pushing for you out there's opinion. Tell me what you think!

Peace out. Make Art Not War.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Iranian unusual protest

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It is well-know that it is dangerous to express the dissatisfaction with the existing state system in Iran. People look for usual forms of protest. And, of course, they find it.

Money are money, and in Iran too. I.e. it is prohibited to draw, write, and put stamps on them. But, on the other hand, it is done quiet often. For example, when you exchange rials for dollars, some exchange offices put small business stamp on the notes. It confirms the authenticity of money, and in case of problems (somebody suddenly decides that these dollars are fake) police can find the one who sold it.

Now, Iranian opposition figures started to stamp revolutionary images and slogans on rials. Of course, the head of the National Bank has already expressed his protest against the damage of state property. And, deputies of the Majlis expressed their idea to invalidate such bank notes. But there are too many of them already and anyone can get a revolutionary greeting.



Death only to the dictator!
You never said where is your 63 percent (a reference to the fact that the demonstrations in support of Ahmadinejad always has very few people).



You, appointed, be afraid of the dust storm! (After the elections, Ahmadinejad called the opposition on the streets 'the dust')



Above: Not our Sohrab died, the authority died.
Below: (in the icon instead of the swastika should be the word "Allah", it is the emblem of the Iranian national television) Our television is our shame.



We did not have your black name in our green ballots (about Ahmadinejad)


"Berlin marks 20th anniversary of wall's fall"

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Fireworks illuminate the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Monday as part of the celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Tens of thousands lined the route where the wall once stood.

Thousands of cheering Germans re-enacted the electrifying moment the Berlin Wall came crashing down — toppling 1,000 graffiti-adorned 8-foot-tall dominoes that tumbled along the route of the now vanished Cold War icon, celebrating 20 years of freedom from separation and fear.

The spectacle — billed by organizers as a metaphor for the way the real wall came down 20 years ago Monday and the resulting fall of communist countries in eastern Europe — was one of several events to mark the anniversary and celebrate the profound change it had not only Germany, but Europe and the world.
Chancellor Angela Merkel — the first east German to hold the job — called the fall of the wall an "epic" moment in history. "For me, it was one of the happiest moments of my life," Merkel said.
Yet she also recalled the tragic side of Nov. 9 for Germans — the Nazi's Kristallnacht — or Night of Broken Glass — anti-Semitic pogrom 71 years ago. At least 91 German Jews were killed, hundreds of synagogues destroyed, and thousands of Jewish businesses vandalized and looted in the state-sanctioned riots that night.
"Both show that freedom is not self evident," Merkel said. "Freedom must be fought for. Freedom must be defended time and again. Freedom is the most valuable commodity in our political and social system."

'Gorby! Gorby!'
Earlier, Merkel and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev crossed a former fortified border on Monday to cheers of "Gorby! Gorby!" as a throng of grateful Germans recalled the night 20 years ago that the Berlin Wall gave way to their desire for freedom and unity.
Within hours of a confused announcement on Nov. 9, 1989, that East Germany was lifting travel restrictions, hundreds of people streamed into the enclave that was West Berlin, marking a pivotal moment in the collapse of communism in Europe.
Merkel, who was one of thousands to cross that night, recalled that "before the joy of freedom came, many people suffered."
She lauded Gorbachev, with whom she shared an umbrella amid a crush of hundreds, eager for a glimpse of the man many still consider a hero for his role in pushing reform in the Soviet Union.
"We always knew that something had to happen there so that more could change here," she said.
"You made this possible — you courageously let things happen, and that was much more than we could expect," she told Gorbachev in front of several hundred people gathered in light drizzle on the bridge over railway lines.
Tears sprang to the eyes of Uwe Kross, a 65-year-old retiree, who recalled seeing the start of the drama on Nov. 9, 1989, from his home, a block away from the bridge.
'Everyone poured through'
"That night, you couldn't stop people," Kross said. "They lifted the barrier and everyone poured through.

"We saw it first on TV; normally it was very quiet up here, but that night we could hear the footsteps of those crossing, tap, tap, tap."
Kross was among those who crossed early on — so early that nobody was yet waiting on the other side when they reached the West. He recalled hopping on the first subway to then-West Berlin's main boulevard, the Kurfuerstendamm. "All hell was breaking loose there," Kross said.
Merkel also welcomed Poland's 1980s pro-democracy leader, Lech Walesa, to the former crossing, saying that his Solidarity movement provided "incredible encouragement" to East Germans.
The leaders were joined by prominent former East Germans such as Joachim Gauck, an ex-pastor who later oversaw the archives of East Germany's secret police, the Stasi.
"Those in government thought they were opening a valve, but once it was open much more happened," Gauck said of the border opening. "A collapse followed."
The bridge crossing was one of a series of events marking Monday's anniversary of the border's opening after the wall kept East German citizens penned in for 28 years.

Bon Jovi, Beethoven
Music from Bon Jovi and Beethoven recalled the joy of the border's opening, which led to German reunification less than a year later and the swift demolition of most of the wall — which snaked for 96 miles (155 kilometers) around West Berlin, a capitalist enclave deep inside East Germany.
Memorials were held for the 136 people killed trying to cross the border and candles were lit.




Friday, January 15, 2010

Change Lingerie for Saudi Arabia

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Advertising Agency: Ogilvy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Creative Director: Mazen Hassan
Art Director / Illustrator: Yasser Alireza
Copywriters: Yasser Alireza, Fitna Nazer
Account management: Khaled Shalha
Published: May 2008

CHANGE is an international upscale brand providing quality lingerie, swimwear and homewear. The objective of the ad was to announce the launch of CHANGE, a Danish  company, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The ads' main focus is to utilize the concept behind censorship in Saudi Arabia to pull focus on the Brand's product line and to transform censorship into art. The ads are all in English, as they target an upscale bilingual audience.

The opinion of English-speaking Saudi Arabian citizen:
"First of all the ads are clever and very relevant to Saudi since all foriegn magazines get censored with the black or red markers, regardless of whether its an underwear ad or not. They see skin and they mark it up.

So using the market and the copy diverts attention to the brand directly, and its also clever way to make fun of censorship.
Using the S instead of C for censorship to imply sense "comonsense" might be pushing it. Don't get me wrong I like to give readers something to think about. But in the context of the ad itself there are already many underlaying messages to think about without adding more. So keeping it simple using the word censor as it is would be enough."

There is no doubt that Social Media Marketing is changing how company's market, and how audiences consume media.
Take countries in the conservative areas of the Middle East, and this example of a marketer in Saudi Arabia who's using local blogs to find a loophole around the censorship of advertising.

Change wanted to run ads that would be considered too racy for print media in the kingdom Saudi Arabia has the strictest ‘morality’ laws in the region.
The policy of keeping women out of public life extends even to the lingerie departments of retailers where you have the odd situation of only men being able to sell underwear to women.
So, the company via its agency Ogilvy Mather, is running ads on local blogs. It even went so far as to poke fun at the censorship laws in the region with black felt tip marks over images considered too revealing as they would be if such an ad were to print in a Saudi magazine.


Tagging

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Just a short one today, folks. Mostly looking for opinions.
Today’s subject is tagging.
I’m gonna be taking about tagging in the ‘I’m gonna write my name on that wall in black ink, without much thought’ sense. However, it’s probably a good idea to note that that’s not all that tagging refers to. Ahem, ‘A"tag" is the most basic writing of an artist's name, it is simply a handstyle. A graffiti writer's tag is his or her personalized signature… Tags can contain subtle and sometimes cryptic messages, and might incorporate the artist's crew initials or other letters.’ (Ancelet)
I took a walk around my neighbourhood the other day. Now, around where I live pretty cool. There’s a huge huge park, a couple of good schools, and some shops. It’s all very nice and pretty. Seeing as I don’t live in Newtown, I don’t have all this amazing graffiti at to look at everyday, and that’s a shame. But, big colourful, political paintings would honestly look a tad out of place. HOWEVER, we seem to have an absolute abundance of tags.
No, they’re not the pretty, colourful kind, that a genuinely good to look at (as seen above), or the witty satirical kind, that when you see them, they actually make you stop and think. Nah, I’m talking about the ones where they scrawl their names, or nicknames, or whatever, on any available surface as if claiming it as their own. Personally, this always reminds me of 15 year olds that really have nothing better to do with their time. Yeah, I know.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand, I was walking round my neighbourhood. I don’t know if its just coz I’ve been paying more attention lately, or whether tagging really is on the rise, it doesn’t really matter, but I’ve been noticing it a lot more.
Below are some examples of tagging from around where I live.
In my humble opinion, these scrawls add nothing to their surroundings.
These two images are of the same property in Ashfield. Its pretty much the only house on the street with so much graffti on it.

This is across the road. The tags really accentuate the sleek lines of those arrows. Yeah, right.

These last two are right near my house. all four sides of this little box are tagged all over. I really, really, don't get it.
Alright, so what do you guys think? Should tagging be considered art? Is it just a way for kids to creatively express themselves publicly? or should we be condemning it, seeing as many people do not see any artistic merit behind it, and just see it as an eyesore?

Tsk, tsk, tsk

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Oh, Banksy, Banksy, Banksy. For shame.
We all remember who I’m talking about, yeah? If not, go here and here for a quick refresher course.
It appears our friend here has started a bit of a graffiti war, with another old school graffiti legend Robbo.
The two are rivals, so I guess Banksy just wanted to annoy him a bit? Meh, probably. He went and painted over one of Robbo’s most famous works, which has been around since 1985. Yeah, that’s not cool, even if what he painted was kinda clever Of course, as expected, Robbo painted over it again, this time using Banksy’s work to further his own. Sweet.

Robbo's original 1985 work

Banky's 'customisation'

Robbo's revenge

Wow

So, I’m guessing this war of theirs isn’t quite over yet, though it definitely looks like Robbo is winning. Stay tuned!
For more on this story, visit this absolutely brilliant blog here

Graffiti Girl

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I’m sure all of us living in Sydney remember this case. Way back in January 09, then 18 year old Cheyene Back was arrested for tagging a café wall in Hyde Park in black permanent marker. She was caught on one of the CCTV cameras that are all over the place down there. She allegedly wrote the word “2shie” which was 30cm high and 60cm in length.
The best picture of the graffiti I could find was here. A bit pitiful, I know, but you get the idea.
She was originally charged to 3 months jail time, which is a bit ludicrous, considering her age, and the fact that this was her first offence. Back said in a statement ““I think (the sentence) was absolutely ridiculous for my first charge and for something so small,” She appealed that sentence, and eventually got it reduced to a twelve month good behaviour bond, which was deemed more approprite for her age and crime.
But, on the other hand, I kind of see where the first magistrate was coming from. It looks like tagging and other graffiti of that kind is becoming an increasing problem in and around N ew South Wales. A 2008 report showed that annual graffiti cleaning cost totaled over $2.7 million, and its is suggested that this figure continue to rise.
So, what do you guys think? Should she have been thrown in jail, or is this all a bit insane for a little scribble? Share your thoughts

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Golnar Tabibzadeh - Victim of the Iranian State

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Hey Everyone,


This week, I'll  be talking about a young Iranian artist, Golnar Tabibzadeh who is internationally renowned as well as controversial in her home nation of Iran. Tabibzadeh, 22 years old,  is from a strong family of intellectuals who have always gone against the mistreatment of women by the somewhat totalitarian Islamic Iranian State. Her mother, who had been rallying for pro-women's rights in the middle of the streets in Tehran, had once been bashed by the Iranian moral police. Young Tabibzadeh saw this event and it was the catalyst that lead her to paint paintings that explored the private lives and psyche of the Iranian people, particularly women.
In a interview with the Canadian newspaper The Toronto Star, Tabibzadeh said:
"Painting is like keeping a diary... I might see a cop hitting a girl and that would affect me. I try to put myself in the position of the different actors, of the cop hitting the girl, or of the girl being hit."
"Painting) is one of the few places where I can express myself without self-censorship — not like in the outside world, in the Islamic Republic, where a lot of people filter their words."
 Notably, much of  her work embodies a stark melancholy, cynacism and a dark edgyness to it. She captures the suffering of being a woman in Iran; living in a world where women are isolated and face nothing but restrictions on who they are, their sexuality and being in general. Her work no doubt epitomises the social criticism at what she sees as the tragic society that has become of Iran. According to The Toronto Star Tabibzadeh is "Drawing ample inspiration from the society surrounding her, Tabibzadeh pointedly satirizes the hypocrisy of an outwardly Islamic society wracked by sexual promiscuity and heroin or opium addiction." - I couldn't agree more with that statement.



A graduate of Azad University, one of the best art schools in Iran and the Middle East, she is the younger generation of intellectuals unsatisfied with Iran's backward government and the effect it has on their lives and freedom. Furthermore, even though Tabibzadeh has an honours degree, because the Islamic State forbids the depiction of any nudity,  the best of  her artwork (which are the nudes) can never be seen and appreciated by her own people she's paints as she can face persecution. What's more, she can never make money out of her art where on a rare occasion her nudes will sell but at a pittance. I honestly can say that's passion and it won't surprise me, if the the Islamic government were to collapse- I have no doubt her work would be revered by Iranians for centuries. Here are a few more pics of her work.



What do you guys think of her work?
That's all today.
Peace out. Make Art Not War.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

CarriageWorks - Sydney's Coolest Gallery

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Hey Everyone!

The other day, I went to see the EOS Photo5 2009 Inaugural Exhibition at CarriageWorks, an art gallery at the old Everleigh Railway Yards near Redfern. Overall, I was impressed with the close to 7000 pictures on exhibited submitted by professional and amatuer photographers - all who used Eos 5 Canon digital cameras. Despite being impressed by the actual photography on exhibition - I was thoroughly impressed with the venue more which is a juxtaposition between a contemporary artesque interior and an old 19th Century industrial architecture of the exterior. I honestly found the history and the art of building a little more interesting than the exhibition itself and I believe the place deserves alot of credit. The place honesty reminded me of the mis-en-scene of many futuristic films.


 Image Courtesy of Google Maps


CarriageWorks was opened early 2007 as a an contemporary arts centre by Art NSW. The art centre is in a couple of the old industrial railway yard sheds which dot the landscape between Redfern and Erskineville which in the 1880s was the centre of Sydney's booming railway industry in the area known as Everleigh (which is part of the Redfern-Waterloo precinct). I believe the building is a perfect testament to the effective use of the recycling of historical buildings and the utilising of space for contemporary purposes. CarriageWorks is multi-venue with theatres, galleries and a large exhibition space - so it's a place which has a melting pot of different contemporary arts; dance, plays, installations, scuptures and typical visual arts.  Overall, it's an awesome place.


Current & Upcoming Visual Arts Events
-  Lynette Wallworth (9 - 14 JANUARY)

- Eos Photo5 2009 Inaugural Exhibition ( 7 - 24 JANUARY 2010)
- Alex Kershaw's One of Several Centres ( THURS 11 FEBRUARY – SAT 6 MARCH 2010)
- Nigel Helyer's Ghostrain  (THUR 11 FEB – WED 17 MARCH, AND THEN THURS 13 MAY – SAT 5 JUNE 2010)

How to Get There 
Basically just catch a train to Redfern Station or Macdonaldtown Station and it's about 5 minute walk there - it's basically next to the rail network between Redfern and Macdonaldtown or even catch a bus that goes through there.
Oh yeah and the address for the place is as follows (Google Map):
CarriageWorks, 245 Wilson St. Eveleigh, NSW 2015.  

That's all! 

I highly recommend you go there and check it out yourself! 
Peace out. Make Art Not War.

2 Years On: The Bill Henson Debacle

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Hey Everyone!

 It will be going onto two years since the Bill Henson debacle - the first controversial form of art censorship to cause a stir in Australian society in a long time. I'd thought I'd bring it up to celebrate, even though it happened two years ago, the ongoing source of controversy it is within Australian society until now (read this article if you want read the Nudes in Henson Tour). The article was posted today and is about how Henson's controversial work will be displayed at the local art gallery in Albury, a rural border town on the Victorian and New South Wales' border. Here are some mixed responses to the article:
One whinged:
Nudity in art!! That trend has been creeping in over the past 3000 years and must be stomped on now. Having recently visited the NGV, I was appalled to find many of the so called "masters" purposefully displaying human body parts which no-one should be exposed to. Obviously children don't know what the human body looks like and should not until 15 years of age. 
 And another one critically said:
So where are the boundaries between Child Pornography and Art? Its not about age of admission to this exhiaition,or nudity in Art, but the age of the subjects he uses. I will boycott this. 
And another full of praise said:
There is a fairly definite line between pornography and art. It's called context. This is art and I'm sure the models and parents we're completely aware of exactly what they were getting into. Although I completely understand the other side of the debate with all of the numerous stories of child abuse, sex offenders and the like, who wouldn't be worried about their children?
What do you guys think? Do you agree or disagree with the statements said? 

For you who don't know or those that need a refresher about Bill Henson's controversy - i'll recount the story for you:

Back in May 2003, famous or at least well-known Australian contemporary photographer (and therefore artist), Bill Henson (or maybe his publicist) emailed a tonne of e-invites to people about the opening night of a new exhibition of his which included photographs of nude pubescents, particularly photographs of a nude 13 year old girl. On the eve of the opening (May 22) following eight separate complaints by the public, police shut down Henson's exhibition at his supporting gallery Roslyn Oxley9 at the artsy inner city Sydney suburb of Paddington.

The e-invite had reached a few people in the media (as well as child protection advocates) who criticised Henson's exhibition calling it a form of child pornography sparking a heated nation-wide debate and criticism from the public, the media and even the PM Kevin Rudd himself who called the photographs "absolutely revolting".

Furthermore, some of Henson's work upon the closure of the exhibition was taken into police possession and the police were intent on charging Henson and his supporting art gallery with the publishing of indecent material as well as child pornography. The charges were dropped by the NSW courts and police in June, 2008 and the photographs were given back to Henson with a PG rating and approval to exhibit from Federal Office of Film and Literature Classification. However, nation-wide people were debating what should be the limits and morality of art? Was Henson's work amoral in any way? What should constitue art? etc. 

My personal opinion is that Henson's work did not need to be censored. Glancing from the photographs of the works (that were censored) in a book (The Henson Case by David Marr ) that explored the whole debacle, the pictures were not smutty or constituted in any shape or form anything erotic or pervey in any way. The children (or teenagers) are not exploited in any way, and the way Hensen has constructed the photographs makes them abstract, poetic and conceptual - according to his wiki page; "Henson presents "adolescents in their states of despair, intoxication and immature ribaldry" and that his photographs were "moments of transition and metamorphosis are important in everyone's lives" - I could not agree more with these statements. I'm not particularly fond of his work - it does not appeal to me in anyway and I honestly think that it is rather dull photography as it is too dark but I can say his work does exploit his subjects but I guess it's a manner of opinion.

If people want to interpret something as exploitative and demeaning, they're entitled to do it ; however, they have to understand Henson's work is purely for artistic purposes just like Michaelango's David or Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon was and above all, people need to take into account the intent of artist which is to make humans understand the world and even life.

If you would like to view some of Hensen's work you can have a look here and decide for yourself.

BOHEMIAN OR DEVIANT? 
So, that's all have to say. What do you guys think about Hensen's work? Do you think it exploits pubescents or is it purely art?
Peace out. Make Art Not War.

Anti-War Iraq War Artwork

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Hey Everyone,


This post is a tribute to the ongoing suffering of the Iraqi people.

Seven years on and the unjustified war in Iraq still wages on with an ever-growing tragic deathtoll. Someone once said to me that "There's no angel's in war" and until this day I stick by that statement. No matter how justified a war may seem - how it seems to "need" to happen - there's nothing beneficial about wars, innocent people will die. Women, children and elderly will die for no good reason but for the bullsh** and false ideals of men. The Iraq War epitomises everything i've just mentioned, and I believe it is one of the major wars which have been fought for the utmost wrong reasons and is waste of not only money, time and resources, but of precious human life.

Like all wars, since the 1950s, the 2003 Iraq War has spawned a large, yet underpublished and publicised Anti-Iraq War Art Movement. I honestly have not seen any Anti-Iraq War art anywhere other than the internet. The Anti-War movement is publically strong in contemporary music, film and literature, but I must comment not as strong as it was during the Vietnam War - where public opinion and the Anti-War movement in the arts was that strong - it was a strong factor in ending the Vietnam War (See, Wiki's Opposition to the US involvement in the Vietnam War).
Furthermore, I think it's tragic that Anti-War art in particular is not an influential element on the masses in exposing and revealing the perals and plight of the Iraqi people under the occupation of the Coalition forces. It saddens me to walk down the street and see people wearing Che Guevara shirts (a revolutionary who stood for better change) but not wearing Anti-Iraq War shirts, which is no doubt a war that impacts us and will impact us in ways we have yet to understand.

However, despite the lack of presence of Anti-Iraq War art as an influence to masses as an influence to end the war; it is still there and whether it is due to governmental censorship (as Val explored a while ago) or lack of interest by the seemingly selfish public, the  Anti-Iraq War art can be found in the thousands on the net - each revolutionary and interesting in their own little way. The art is highly political as they exploit the U.S government's arrogance, the decadence of the U.S politicians as well as expose the sufferings of the Iraq people and U.S soldiers. Moreover the Anti-War in Iraq art exploits the ideologies such as corporate greed, capitalism and globalisation which it sees as the catalyst for the war.

Here are some Anti-Iraq War images I like (all are sourced from MinitureGigantic.com)









So what do you guys think of the artwork? Why do you think Anti-Iraq War Art has not been such a publicised movement?
That's all I have for you guys today.
Peace out. Make Love Not War.