Title: A History of Protest Art Through Examples - From Ai Weiwei to Banksy | Widewalls
Headings: A History of Protest Art Through Examples - From Ai Weiwei to Banksy
A History of Protest Art Through Examples - From Ai Weiwei to Banksy
May 18, 2016
Interested in collecting protest art? Check out this rebellious sculpture by Ai Weiwei!
The Influence of Contemporary Protest Artists
Scroll down to see some of the most influential protest art of our times.
Ai Weiwei - The Dissident
Be sure to check out an interesting selection of works by Ai Weiwei!
Pyotr Pavlensky - Taking Protest Art to Extreme
Banksy - The Guerilla Street Artist
Find available artworks by Banksy on Widewalls marketplace!
Pussy Riot - A Provocative Punk Rock Protest Band
Guerrilla Girls - The Feminist Masked Avengers
Carrie Reichardt - A Figure of the Craftivism Movement
Arab Spring Graffiti
Alex Hartley and Nowhereisland
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Content: Addressing socio-political issues and challenging the traditional boundaries and hierarchies imposed by those in power, art can open up space for the marginalized to be seen and heard and contribute to the social change by producing knowledge and solidarity or simply raising awareness. In this way, the personal life and work of the artist transcends the individual and speaks meaningfully to a larger audience bringing together the political and human functions of art. Interested in collecting protest art? Check out this rebellious sculpture by Ai Weiwei! Since many variations of protest art can be found throughout the history, it is difficult to establish the beginning of this politically engaging artistic expression. Conceptual art and performance activist art was majorly influenced by Dada, an anti-war movement which used satire, non-rational and anti-idealistic discourse to critique the First World War and its capitalist agenda. Some of the other early examples of protest art include the Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros who has been very active in left-wing politics in the beginning of the 20th century and wanted to reach hard-working Mexicans through art. When it comes to fine art, Picasso ’s Guernica (1937) based on the Spanish Civil War and capturing its atrocities and inhumanity, served as an inspiration for the modern human rights movement. The Influence of Contemporary Protest Artists
War was often a motivating factor for artists, also providing the metaphor for the more general exercise of power. During the 1960s and 1970s, many creatives that can be seen as protest artists visibly opposed the Vietnam War including Ronald Haeberle, Peter Saul, Carl Andre, Norman Carlberg and Nancy Spero and produced artworks that raised awareness and called for the responsibility.