Art de la Resistance

Art de la Resistance is a blog about art that is trying to make an impact in our world. Pieces that have been created to stir the viewer to question set beliefs and move the observer ultimately to action. These pieces need not be of traditional mediums but need to promote the spirit of a resistance or rebellion.

Why focus on these images and artists? They endeavor to make us aware of the world around us and bring attention to the effects of our society upon the world we endure each day.

There are many famous artists that tackled this subject and this blog will focus upon them as well as those who are not well known. This blog will consist of several articles: Each of them dedicated to showing the state of art in today's society across the globe.

Well, enough of the intro, and onto the first of what will hopefully many more blogs... Kevin Sweeney


Present Day Revolutionaries
Brazil

Fifa's World Cup in Brazil brought attention to corruption within the organization and inspired artists to take to the streets in order to bring the worlds attention to the plights of the Brazilian people. If you are seeing this piece by Paulo Ito for the first time I would suggest you do a google search or read The Guardian's article on Brazil's anti-World Cup street art – in pictures.

Paulo's work offers a very direct message; the people need food but have been given soccer instead. What makes this so much more disturbing is that the amount of money the World Cup can bring to the country who hosts it is enormous, but none of it went to helping the public that was displaced by the event and live in the city it was hosted. Everyday citizens took to the streets of São Paulo and other Brazilian cities to protest the games. Their protests were met with tear gas and anti-riot batons.

Even after the attention deficit modern medias eyes have moved away from the unrest and the now much richer Fifa governing units have left the South American cities the art still stands. It is fitting that it does because the desire for a better existence that inspired the works and riots have not been quenched in the least.

Fuleco the Armadillo, the 2014 World up mascot, pointing a rifle at a message that reads: 'We Want Education' and 'Not Repression'. Photograph: Sergio Moraes/Reuters

These art works that have sprung up out of a societies desire for justice and fair treatment likely will not be treasured like the incredibly important works they are.

At present until the government in Brazil decides to tear them down these wonderful and powerful images still haunt Brazilian streets. Each of them demanding to be noticed.

Artistically they are a reminder that not all important art is on a canvas or impeccably framed in a stuffy gallery. Sometimes the most important images are the ones on the side of the house or bridge down the street.

In the case of these paintings they prove that an image can embody the rage and desires of a culture. Loudly and brilliantly these works of art display the truth of a culture and people, and what more could a practicing artist idealistically aspire to?


http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/12/anti-world-cup-protests-brazilian-cities-sao-paulo-rio-de-janeiro

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