Egyptian graffiti artists protest Sisi
Renowned Egyptian graffiti artist Ganzeer has protested military rule on the walls of the streets of Cairo, drawing attacks from media supporting military leader and presidential candidate Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
CAIRO — His face is on posters, shirts, cupcakes and now campaign banners and billboards across the country. The image of Egypt’s next likely president, ex-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, was iconized well before he declared his candidacy by propagandists, opportunists and supporters soon after he led the military ouster of President Mohammed Morsi last summer amid the nationalist fervor sweeping the country.
At the same time, the art form of graffiti was providing a counternarrative — that of the bloodshed following Morsi’s removal. “Sisi is a killer” was sprayed by supporters of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood across Cairo, and remains on walls even near the presidential palace. A few of Sisi’s billboards feature a splash of blood-red paint across his face, presumably splattered by his detractors.
In a parallel vein, more delicately crafted murals by established street artists also allude to the ills of Sisi and the interim military-backed government he installed before swapping his defense minister title for presidential candidate. Along the prolific informal gallery of Mohamed Mahmoud Street in downtown Cairo, a soldier grips a back-slung rifle amid piles of skulls, blood dripping from his mouth. The image, titled “The Army Above All,” was created by artist Mohamed Fahmy, also known as Ganzeer.
