Graffiti can be found in most urban areas of the world and Beirut is no exception. Walking down the streets of my Hamra neighborhood, it doesn't take long before you come across some.
Graffiti, like all art, is a form of expression. One of my favorite types of this unauthorized street art is done using stencils. Stencils can be very effective and are often poltical in nature. (See works by Banksy and Shephard Fairey.) The medium can take you out of your environment, even for a moment, and illustarate some of societies greatest flaws and hippocracies. At its best, it can be devastating.
The examples I found here in Beirut were decent. I thought the bomb gift wrapped for Gaza was effective. One theme a few of the works had in common was American culture, including depictions of E.T, Bambi, and Micky Mouse. Mickey is depicted saying "We're with you", which may be in reference to the Lebanese gorging on U.S. pop culture.
Another theme was homosexuality. Though its considered the most liberal country in the Middle East, being openly gay is still illegal in Lebanon. So the stencil of the "Arab Lesbian Liberation Front" is doubly forbidden. The graffiti breaks the law at the same time as its very message is breaking the law. There is one of a man simply saying "I love him". Though such an idea might not raise an eyebrow in the West, here they are incredibly taboo.
There is also a stencil of the symbol for female (a circle with a cross coming out of the bottom) turning into a fist. Both that symbol and the A.L.L.F stencils are feminist in nature and come across as militant, which is also exceptional given the location. If such an organization existed, it would probably operate in extreme secrecy.
All in all, I was happy just to find some of these works and photograph them. The examples ranged from the technically impressive yet boring one of ET, to the simple but compelling A.L.L.F example, to the all around great one of the bomb gift wrapped for Gaza. While most of the works were not nearly as effective as the mediums giants, its a good start. This country has a good mix of smart disenfranchised young people and a politically charged atmosphere that could produce some good stuff in the future. Keep up the good work.
Graffiti, like all art, is a form of expression. One of my favorite types of this unauthorized street art is done using stencils. Stencils can be very effective and are often poltical in nature. (See works by Banksy and Shephard Fairey.) The medium can take you out of your environment, even for a moment, and illustarate some of societies greatest flaws and hippocracies. At its best, it can be devastating.
The examples I found here in Beirut were decent. I thought the bomb gift wrapped for Gaza was effective. One theme a few of the works had in common was American culture, including depictions of E.T, Bambi, and Micky Mouse. Mickey is depicted saying "We're with you", which may be in reference to the Lebanese gorging on U.S. pop culture.
Another theme was homosexuality. Though its considered the most liberal country in the Middle East, being openly gay is still illegal in Lebanon. So the stencil of the "Arab Lesbian Liberation Front" is doubly forbidden. The graffiti breaks the law at the same time as its very message is breaking the law. There is one of a man simply saying "I love him". Though such an idea might not raise an eyebrow in the West, here they are incredibly taboo.
There is also a stencil of the symbol for female (a circle with a cross coming out of the bottom) turning into a fist. Both that symbol and the A.L.L.F stencils are feminist in nature and come across as militant, which is also exceptional given the location. If such an organization existed, it would probably operate in extreme secrecy.
All in all, I was happy just to find some of these works and photograph them. The examples ranged from the technically impressive yet boring one of ET, to the simple but compelling A.L.L.F example, to the all around great one of the bomb gift wrapped for Gaza. While most of the works were not nearly as effective as the mediums giants, its a good start. This country has a good mix of smart disenfranchised young people and a politically charged atmosphere that could produce some good stuff in the future. Keep up the good work.
I think maybe I chose the wrong Muslim country to live in. Got any extra room in that one-bedroom apartment?
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