Renad Ghanem

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH – Often, graffiti art has been known for being part of a subculture that rebels against authority. Within the many colors of graffiti, it expresses a political practice and forms a tool in an array of authority resistance techniques. In Egypt, the January 25th revolution opened doors for a wave of revolutionary graffiti to rise; which didn’t exist during Mubarak’s era.



Graffiti, or street art as many people call it, usually exists in neighborhoods that contain a larger percentage of residents, who live under the poverty line. However, in Egypt, the anger and resentment of people was shown through the graffiti since its the easiest and cheapest method for revolutionists to send their messages and express their rage against the regime. While strolling in the streets of Egypt, it’s easy to see the street art, which is mostly inspired by the events that took place in the country during the past three years.



Graffiti wasn’t limited to Tahrir Square or poor neighborhoods only; it could be found in almost any and every street in Egypt. Artists inspiration comes from the live events, many of the graffiti’s oppose Mubarak and Morsi’s regime. The drawings send messages about violence against protestors; they also encourage women to stand against sexual abuse and harassment.



You can find many familiar faces that have been drawn, they are not famous people or public figures, they are merely simple people who were injured or died during both revolutions.



Most of events that took place in Egypt since January25th’s revolution, were documented on the walls through graffiti.



Mohamed Mahmoud Street is one of the most famous streets which witnessed a lot of events, during which protestors were fighting with Egyptian police. The events of Mohamed Mahmoud Street are documented on the walls of the street through graffiti drawings.



Egyptian artists choose the places that are most crowded with people, like the downtown area of Cairo, because they target the common man, who usually doesn’t read newspapers and doesn’t use the Internet. It is easier to expose them to information through graffiti without any effort. Sometimes they prefer to draw in front of train stations or public transportation stations, because most of the common men use this form of transportation on their way to their work.



According to reports, Local Development Minister Adel Labib has announced recently that his ministry is preparing a draft law, which would ban “abusive” graffiti on buildings in Egypt.



Defendants found guilty of breaking this law could end up with four years in prison or LE100,000 fines, Labib explained.



Labib added that committees have been formed in neighborhoods and cities to monitor abusive graffiti and littering in the streets.



As for now, graffiti in Egypt will stay on the walls.