Graffiti gets political in Yemen
Yemeni artists have launched several interactive street art initiatives as a way to engage the public.
Since the youth uprising in 2011, there have been many street graffiti initiatives and campaigns in Yemen. As armed groups and fighting spread, and the regions outside the state's control grow, graffiti campaigns are increasingly used as ways to resist the violence and address the political conflict through art.
Caricatures: from newspapers and magazines to the street
A few weeks ago, young painter Dhi Yazan al-Alawi launched a drawing campaign in the streets of Sanaa. The "Street Caricatures" campaign is characterized by candor, simplicity and a focus on highlighting local imagery using common clothing and facial features.
In addition to their cynical and sarcastic commentary, the drawings that make up this initiative express the concerns of the public. The first week focused on prices and the lifting of subsidies on petroleum products, while the second week was dedicated to the killing of soldiers and al-Qaeda attacks, which have escalated in the past two years. The third week revolved around art and life. The faces of 22 prominent male and female Yemeni artists were drawn on the streets.
