​Activism through Art

​Activism through Art

By Jordan Fiut

Images have a persuasive power that can influence the human mind greatly, making art a great medium for activism. Activist art is not a recent phenomenon, it has been a driving force for social change for centuries. Here, we will take a look back at some important parts of our history through the lens of activist art.

Considered to be one of the greatest images of the French Revolution, the painting depicted David's friend, revolutionary leader Jean-Paul Marat, lying in his bath after he was murdered. This important piece of art also went on to become an important political propaganda piece after it was turned into an engraving and circulated in public.

The Death of Marat, Jacques Louis David (1793)

The painting depicted the chilling scene of the massacre of Spanish freedom fighters at the hands of the French. Different from the typical 18th century arts, which usually showed  

The Third of May 1808, Francisco Goya (1814)

warfare with little emotions and bloodshed, this presented an emotional and close perspective on war’s impact on people. Goya used the painting to shame spectators for standing by when the violence took place around them, and went on to become a powerful anti-war statement.

Multiple Choice

Activist art is only a recent concept that only arose in the last century.

• True

• False

The Dada movement revolted against the traditional beliefs of racism, sexism, and pro-war sentiments. This artwork was a photomontage of the social and political climate of post-war Germany and a social commentary on the prevailing gender issues. It demonstrated the Dadaist rebellion during a time of strict cultural and political conformity.

Cut with the Kitchen Knife through the Last Epoch of Weimar Beer-Belly Culture in Germany, Hannah Höch (1919-20)

Arguably the most famous political art to date, this painting portrayed the 1937 bombing of the Spanish city of Guernica by the German Air Force, advocated against National Socialism and General Francisco Franco, and championed the previous democratically-elected government.

Guernica, Pablo Picasso (1937)

Multiple Choice

Based on the two previous slides, what is one motivating factor for activist art?

• War

• Plague

• Hunger

• Death

An iconic piece during the Civil Rights Movement, the painting showed a young Ruby Bridges walking solemnly to school while being escorted by four white US Marshals. Through this artwork, Rockwell took a stand against racism and advocated the civil rights of the African-American community.

The Problem We All Live With, Norman Rockwell (1964)

Haring was as a champion of freedom, justice, and unity, using his work to raise awareness around some of the most pressing socio-political issues of his age. In his Free South Africa series, Haring turned his critical eye to the atrocities of apartheid and racial injustice in South Africa.

Free South Africa 2, Keith Haring (1985)

Each day, this pile of candy started out at 175 lbs, the ideal weight of Gonzalez-Torres's partner before he died from AIDS complications and guests are encouraged to take a piece to represent his decline in health. In a time where public funding of both the arts and AIDS research were hot issues and artists were censored for it, this display allowed for easy replicability - and one can't censor candy without looking ridiculous.

“Untitled” (Portrait of Ross in L.A.),  Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1991)

Dropdown

Social injustice and prejudice is a historical issue found ​

Select answer

, and has motivated many artists to advocate for equality for all.

This world famous mural depicted Erich Honecker and Leonid Brezhnev in a socialist fraternal kiss that marked the foundation of the German Democratic Republic in East Berlin in 1979. The mural was created in 1990 on the eastern side of the Berlin Wall, which did not allow graffiti until after it came down.

The Kiss, Dmitri Vrubel (1990)

This graffiti by Banksy appeared in 2003 after the Israeli government built a wall to separate the Palestinian minority from the Jewish Israeli population. With the apparent message calling for flowers instead of violence, the work has often been interpreted as a call for peace.

​Love Is In The Air, Banksy (2006)

Hotspot

If a group puts up a wall to separate populations from one another, where can activist art most likely be found?

Today's Activist Art

Today, we are surrounded by many pressing issues, that both tie to the past and will affect our future. Think on what issues you find important, and search for what artists are creating around them.