Maspero- 2 months and counting

Today marks the two month anniversary of the Maspero tragedy; it passed with little fanfare-- no newspaper headlines, no massive demonstration. Over the past month I have photographed many pieces of street art pertaining to the Maspero tragedy.

NOTE: All stencils reference the distinctive shape of the Maspero building (a circular building, with a tower jutting out of the middle) which houses the state-run TV industry and is located along the Nile in downtown, not far from Midan Tahrir.

Translation:"Dead poison"

This photo was taken on Monday 21 November in front of the Mugamma. Within a few days it was completely covered by new street art.

This photograph was taken on Sunday 27 November across the street from the Maglis Al Sha'ab on Qasr Al-Aini Street.

This photograph was taken on Sunday 27 November on the street of the Maglis Al Sha'ab. The wall was initially covered in only distinctive, pre-planned stencils, over time it has increasingly been covered in impromptu spray-paint.

This stencil is by the street artist El Teneen.

Bashar El Assad

Translation: "King of the forest rides a tank."

The word forest (al-ghaba) is partially painted over.

This stencil of Bashar El Assad with a Hitler mustache (& the accompanying words) is by the street artist El Teneen. It began appearing in Cairo in August.

Translation: "The League of Sheikha Mozah"

These words are located on the gate of the Arab League (Gam'at El Duwal El Arabya) headquarters. There are two gates and both gates have the same words spray-painted on them.

Sheikha Mozah is the wife of the Qatari Emir. She was honored by the Health and Humanitarian Aid Department of the Arab League this October.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/162272-arab-league-body-to-honour-sheikha-moza.html

I am not sure when this street art was created or by whom and am thus not sure if there is a connection between the Sheikha Mozah and El Assad street art. I initially assumed that anything written on the Arab League gates was from the Syrian activists demonstrating outside and, considering how long the Syrian activists have been there, think that there is some validity to that assumption. Perhaps the Syrian activists renamed the League after Sheikha Mozah in order to shame it for concentrating on award ceremonies, instead of addressing the more pressing issue of the escalating brutality of Bashar El Assad and his regime in Syria.

Despite, or perhaps because of, the ongoing occupation of Midan Tahrir, Syrians continue to demonstrate outside the Arab League headquarters, which is located just off the Midan.

Today Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan called for Assad to step down. In his speech to the Turkish parliament, Erdogan said "Quit power before more blood is shed... for the peace of your people, your region and your country."

As I passed the building, I could see people snapping photos from the top floor balcony at the demonstrations in Midan Tahrir. Given the recent events in Cairo, it seems as though Erdogan's words wouldn't be out of place if directed at Egypt's SCAF.

Last week Jordan's King Abdullah called for Assad to step down, he was the first Arab leader to do so.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsContent/2/8/27286/World/Region/Turkish-PM-calls-on-coward-Assad-to-quit.aspx

Bashar El Assad's regime did not comply with the Arab League's deadline for halting its violent crackdown.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15810579

Checkmate

An iconic piece of street art by the artist El Teneen, the piece was drawn during the Revolution and has remained relatively untouched since. All of the pawns are on one side of the chessboard, except for the king-- who is flipped over, & other ranking pieces.

Who is moving the pieces?

this is not graffiti

The name of this blog comes from an exhibition by the same name at the Townhouse Gallery. Located in downtown Cairo, the Townhouse Gallery is comprised of a library (with art books in several languages), several exhibition space and a theatre. The Gallery hosts artists in residence and has many programs for under-priviledged youth and refugees.

Here a great video about the Gallery: http://vimeo.com/21584869
As the video explains, the Gallery fosters discussion on political and social issues.

I saw the play Lessons in Revolting at the Gallery in August.
http://lessonsinrevolting.com/dates-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%ae-2/-- they're currently touring in Europe, check it out!

The play was produced by Egyptian actor-activists whose "purpose is not to document or reminisce, but to reflect [about the January 25 revolution] with an audience."


The exhibition "This is not graffiti" features nine artists who each graffiti-ed a wall of the Townhouse Gallery. Given the exhibition's title, should I be using the "graffiti-ed"? Many of the artwork on the street is actually painted and not spray-painted which is medium that I most associate with graffiti. Additionally I have always considered graffiti an inherently subversive (i.e. illegal) act.

Perhaps the title then is in reference to the fact that the artwork in the exhibition is not illegal and will not be crossed out or painted over because it is under the auspieces of the exhibition. In contrast, the artwork on the street is not part of an exhibition and as a result has no protection. While the artwork on the street will no doubt remain subversive, I can only hope that this blog will offer it some degree of protection. So is it graffiti? That's for you to decide.


Here pictures (taken on my iphone) from the exhibition.
The panda is ubiquitous is Cairo. Apparently before the January 25 revolution there was a TV commercial involving an angry panda(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4277ZqJEd7Q&feature=related). The subtitles are hard to see, but I think you'll be able to make the connection.

Any yes, there is a picture of a white wall.