Egyptian Protest Art (2023)

Initiated on January 25, 2011, the Egyptian Revolution aimed to depose President Hosni Mubarak and establish democratic governance. It was part of the broader Arab Spring uprising, which spread across various Middle Eastern nations with a similar aspiration for democracy, including Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, and Bahrain. Although Mubarak’s ouster was ultimately accomplished, the revolution was accompanied by significant police brutality that led to the loss of numerous Egyptian lives. Furthermore, human rights abuses continued after the removal of Mubarak from power. Egyptian protest art evolved in the face of these injustices. Typically found as graffiti on street corners, it addresses a wide range of political and social issues within Egypt, including religion, women’s rights, martyrs of the revolution, and police brutality. By using art in this way, activists have found a nonviolent means of confronting these challenges and raising awareness of their causes amongst the populace.