The Art of Resistance

How can the voice of the oppressed force waves across the world? That is the million-dollar question that often breaks the spirit of the youth before they even start to dream. Thinking about change is far more daunting than acting upon it, and if you were told art is one way to reshape the world, what are the chances you would take it seriously? Pretty slim. After all, art doesn’t have the best reputation. How often is it heard that a career in art is useless?

It is no secret that family and society often pressure young people to become doctors, engineers, and lawyers. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with becoming a doctor; society needs them to function. But, society also requires creative minds alongside the logical ones. Cold, analytics lenses only go so far before they shatter from pressure and suppressed yearning. When hard times reign, hope is the perseverance that survives. Creativity is the only last thing that can be kept in dark times, as evidenced by the function of rebels during decades of oppression. 

Art is an integral piece of almost every group movement, through logos, music, calling cards, etc. Resistance groups are no different. Street graffiti, paintings with double meanings, and even the persistent recreation of ancient traditions colonizers tried so hard to stamp out: these carefully selected acts of vandalism are used to share the voice of the oppressed. There is another great article on our VeraBlog about graffiti by Yassin El Ateek for more information on that particular subject. These acts are subtle, yet powerful enough to protest for social justice issues without being seen as ‘intimidating’ or ‘violent’. 

It may not sponsor a solution, but it gathers hope that people are not alone in their problems. Art brings the community together in hard times, whether that be through clothing, pottery, paintings, graffiti, weavings, etc. 

An example of tradition being weaved into a rebellion of sorts extends back to the 16th-century slave trade. When Spanish colonizers forcibly brought slaves - many of which were West African - to Colombia, they used cornrows as coded messages to lead each other to safety (Bogaard 2022). This tradition stems from before that time, when braided hair was used as a status symbol, and continues to the present as a staple of self-identity. This is just one of the many ways art can be taken and used in dire ages.

To derive the true value behind the colours, or lack thereof in some cases, one must be willing to look past the cover and into the lives of the artists. No one is spared by life. Not creators, nor their works. Everything is touched by reality, and to breathe experiences into inanimate objects, to make them lifelike and touching, is a talent far more useful than society deems. 

Works Cited

Bogaard, Cecilia. “African Slaves Used Braids to Communicate Escape Routes in Colombia.” Ancient Origins Reconstructing the Story of Humanity’s Past, 30 Nov. 2022, www.ancient-origins.net/weird-facts/braids-0017595.

Written by: Honey Patel

Edited by: Suereya Abdella

Revised by: Sania Khan