Photo: Yazan Halwani
Brilio.net/en - Art has long been the bridge of change, even if only changing the perception of the world around us. Street art especially is an expression of both culture and counterculture. It comes as no surprise that street art has been utilized as a tool of expression and change, time and time again. The images are displayed in public spaces and clearly show a multi-dimensional reality to modern societies. Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, Roa, BluBlu, and Gaia are only some of the artists to have grown with international popularity, but sometimes its the local artists that stir the most noise.
Hayat Chaaban, 19, of Lebanon is one such artist. She has been creating her art in her native Tripoli for several years now, in doing so challenging not only the governments tough reputation but also that graffiti is a male dominated activity. She chooses not to pick any sides, whether its about politics of religion. Her work focuses more on critical thinking and co-existence. In one of her more popular images, a black and white mural reads Salam, the Arabic word for peace, with a hand wrapped in barbed wire making a peace sign.
As Tripoli is still a dangerous city, and has been linked to much of the activity in Syria. In 2013, two mosques were targeted in a coordinated attack that left 47 people dead, making it the single most deadly attack in the country during its 15-year-long civil war.
Chaaban also works with art that critiques the government management. She not only participated in a demonstration but also created a mural, in which she portrayed a garbage bag in the shape of Lebanon with the caption Enough! underneath. Despite her artistic talent, her focus is on Arabic calligraphy with social messages.
Lebanon has seen a surge of street art in the wake of a civil unrest, most prominently Yazan Halwani. The young artist from Beirut has painted several striking murals of Lebanese officials and prominent Arab figures in hopes of sparking a much needed dialogue. Halwanis depictions have included, among others, Samir Kassir, the assassinated Lebanese journalist and historian; Khalil Gibran, a feted Lebanese poet; Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish; and Fairouz, a Lebanese singer and cultural icon.
Halwani said a simple reason for why he creates street art: Im trying to show people that its very easy to change the city, to make it out.
(Reported by Ivana Lucic)
(brl/tis)
