What is social movement art?
On August 20, 2023, REVOLVE will be hosting an art party at The Fort in Duncan. We are so excited to spend the evening (with delicious food) exploring justice, liberation and resilience with the community. Our goal is to collectively reimagine a better future together. We then hope to display this art at the REVOLVE launch party in September!
But we realize that some may not be familiar with social movement or liberation art.
So, let’s take a moment to talk about it:
About social movement and liberation art:
What we’re calling social movement art goes by many names. Some call it protest art, liberation art, or social justice art.
So, what is it?
Social movement art specifically amplifies voices (usually ones that have been historically excluded) and can inspire social change. This type of art can serve as a catalyst for dialogue, reflection, and action, as it captures the essence of people’s struggles and triumphs within social justice movements.
Through the creative expression of artists, social movement art becomes a manifestation of a community’s vision for liberation and justice. There are many examples of social movement art throughout history and in present-day, including iconic and moving pieces like The Scream by Kent Monkman.
Let’s dive a bit deeper into one example of protest art that sent a ripple effect across society at the time.
Man at the Crossroads
In 1932, a famous revolutionary Mexican artist named Diego Rivera was commissioned by the Rockefeller family to create a mural for the Rockefeller Center in New York City. Rivera and the Rockefellers agreed on an initial concept: a piece contrasting socialism and capitalism.
But this infamous mural, called “Man at the Crossroads,” never saw completion. Rivera painted stunning imagery of a Soviet Russian May Day parade with workers, soldiers, scientists and other members of society—all as a sober critique of capitalism and imperialism. The mural depicted wealthy women and men among the struggling and oppressed working class. By April of 1933, the media got wind of the mural that dared to shine a light on the inequities of capitalism.
The New York World-Telegram newspaper published an article declaring that the mural was anti-capitalist propaganda, spurring controversy and bad publicity. The Rockefellers ultimately ended the project and the mural was eventually destroyed.
Luckily, Rivera’s assistant had taken photographs of the mural. It was recreated in Mexico in a nearly identical copy. The recreated version is called Man, Controller of the Universe, and is pictured above. The destruction of Rivera’s mural and controversy surrounding it sparked protest and widespread debate about the importance of artistic freedom and political art.
Rivera’s dedication to honesty about the oppression of the working class, despite the attack on his reputation and livelihood, serves as a reminder of the power of art.
Why social movement art is important to REVOLVE
Social movement art can connect individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences - something that we have heard many Cowichan community members say they wish could happen. Art can create empathy, understanding, and solidarity, as people see humanity represented in the art.
Social movement art also plays a crucial role in raising awareness about important issues. It has the power to transcend language barriers and cultural boundaries, reaching a wide audience and sparking conversations that may have not happened otherwise. By visually depicting the injustices and inequalities that exist in society—or alternatively, by depicting a revolutionary vision of the future—art can challenge the status quo and compel people to question their own beliefs and values.
We hope the art created by the community can be displayed at the REVOLVE launch party, and will serve as a tool for dialogue and reflection about the way our world functions, and inspire people to imagine that a new world is possible.