“Unmute Gaza” Dispatch, Artist’s Participate in 83 Cities, 30 Countries

In the midst of ongoing turmoil, the Gaza Strip is engulfed in a conflict that has now stretched into its fifth harrowing month. The escalating violence has led to the tragic loss of over 30,000 lives, including countless children, marking a somber chapter. Amidst this backdrop of sorrow and chaos, a beacon of artistic activism addresses the darkness: Unmute Gaza, a bold initiative melding the worlds of photojournalism and visual art to break the silence surrounding the war’s devastating human toll.

Artist, Raquel Aparicio. Photojournalist, Belal Khaled. (image © courtesy of Unmute Gaza)

Unmute Gaza represents a collective outcry against the indifference of the global community and media. This creative coalition has rallied around the poignant snapshots captured by five courageous Gazan photojournalists: Belal Khaled, Mahmoud Bassam, Sameh Nidal-Rahmi, Saher Alghorra, and Majdi Fathi. These photographers’ raw, unfiltered depictions of life amidst conflict are translated by artists worldwide. The striking images, reimagined as paintings and sketches, serve not only as powerful testaments to the human spirit but also as rallying cries for action and empathy.

Artist, Faith47. Photojournalist, Mahmoud Bassam. (image © courtesy of Unmute Gaza)

Highlighting the intersection of activism and art, the Unmute Gaza movement recently partnered with environmental powerhouse Greenpeace to unveil a compelling piece by renowned artist Shepard Fairey (video below). Inspired by Belal Khaled’s haunting imagery, Fairey’s work—portraying a blood-stained Palestinian child beneath the pleading words “Can you hear us?”—was dramatically displayed at Madrid’s Reina Sofia Museum. This collaboration epitomizes the campaign’s reach and impact, with Unmute Gaza’s message resonating in public spaces across 83 cities in 30 countries worldwide, urging us to confront the harsh realities of war and to amplify the plight of people demanding to be heard.

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Greenpeace climbers unfurl an image by Obey based on a photo by photojournalist Belal Khaled. Reina Sofia Museum. Madrid, Spain. January, 24, 2024. (image © Greenpeace/Mario Gomez)
Greenpeace climbers unfurl an image by Obey based on a photo by photojournalist Belal Khaled. Reina Sofia Museum. Madrid, Spain. January, 24, 2024. (image © Greenpeace/Mario Gomez)
Artists, Maverick Mura and Axel Void. Photojournalist, Sameh Rahmi. (image © courtesy of Unmute Gaza)
Artist, Paola Delfin. Photojournalist, Belal Khaled. (image © courtesy of Unmute Gaza)
Artist, Paola Delfin. Photojournalist, Belal Khaled. (image © courtesy of Unmute Gaza)

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