Street Artists Are Using the Art of Photojournalism to Unmute Gaza

The “Unmutegaza” is a creative movement using the art of photojournalism as a foundation to recreate their imagery for a global print-and-paste campaign. These works are then displayed in public spaces across various cities worldwide, accompanied by the symbolic mute sign. This initiative aims to convey a powerful message, raise awareness about critical issues in Gaza, and support photojournalists who are being silenced or ignored.

The project has attracted the participation of several talented artists, including Escif, Faith47, Ernest Zacharevic, Mohamed L Ghacham, Paola Delfin, Bastardilla, Jofre Oliveras, Sainer, Axel Void and Maverick. Also, Alba Fabre Sacristan, Corrosivo Carsal, Daniel Munoz, Emilio Cerezo, Incendaria Libertad, Maverick Mura, Miguel Brieva, Nadia Jaber, Pirotecnia, Raquel Aparicio, Stefan Krische with more be announced.

Photojournalists include Belal Khaled, Mahmoud Bassam, Sameh Nidal-Rahmiand and Saher Alghorra.

To spread the message far and wide, anyone can download the PDF prints for free and display them in public spaces across the globe. The posters have emerged in 21 countries and 31 cities, such as the vibrant metropolises of Mexico City, Bogota, London, Rome, and Melbourne.

The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has soared to over 15,000 Palestinians, including over 6,000 children. Israel launched air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. 2023. The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stood at 1.2 thousand; 35 Israeli children were killed, and more than 30 were abducted, according to official figures.

American artist Shepard Fairey joins their international roster of visual artists, creating posters to print and paste worldwide for the public.

Shepard Fairey’s image is based on an image by photojournalist Belal Khaled.

“I’m supporting Unmute Gaza because I’m a pacifist. I believe in solutions to disagreements that avoid violence. I stand with countless others demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. We are an intelligent species capable of cooperation and solving problems without violence. The tragic events of the last nine weeks in Israel and Palestine have saddened and upset me. First, I was shocked by Hamas’s murdering and kidnapping of Israeli citizens on October 7. I have since been shocked by the indiscriminate bombing and disregard for human rights and human life in Gaza by the Israeli military in response to Hamas’s attack. The denial of water, electrical power, and basic necessities to Gaza’s citizens, as well as their mass displacement, has no moral justification. Within the complex conversation and histories between Israelis and Palestinians, one thing that has emerged very quickly to me is that the Western media is largely uninterested in giving equal coverage to the suffering in Gaza that has taken the lives of an estimated 18,000 Palestinian civilians, many who are women and children. There are many photojournalists working courageously in Gaza to shed light on the real human consequences of Israel’s offensive. I was inspired to work from Belal Khaled’s photo of a young boy who is crying out in pain from his injuries as blood runs down his face. An image like this (and thousands of others) can strip away the superficial overlay of country, ethnicity, and religion and illuminate the basic human suffering that is happening in Gaza. I’m morally compelled to amplify the message of Belal’s photograph and his caption “CAN YOU HEAR US?”. Let’s hope that, for the sake of peace and humanity that, we can all hear and respond! ”

Shepard Fairey 19/12/23 instagram

This print and others are available for free download on unmutegaza.

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