Artwork of Bahraini Protestors

The country of Bahrain is a small, island country located to the east of Saudi Arabia. The country is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. Like much of the rest of the Middle East, Bahrain is finding itself in severe upheaval and turmoil right now. Following the lead of other neighboring countries, major protests against the government and leaders have taken place. The Pearl Roundabout became the center for all activity regarding the protests, including being the main site for demonstrations. What has also developed at the Roundabout because of all this Arabian sturm und drang, is a significant amount of opposition art.

The art displayed along the sides of the Roundabout have run the gamut from graffiti to banners to mere photographs of protestors lying dead. A lot of this artwork has been sloppily done. If one were to look at any of these creations under a separate set of circumstances, it would be easy to dismiss it with the same sort of carelessness that it looks like it was made under. However, the hasted effect is precisely what gives all of this work resonance.

One of the more intriguing pieces created was the front of a Sanyo air conditioner with a paper print out taped to it, reading, “We won’t move even if summer comes. We have the air conditioners ready.” It’s shoddy and looks like a grade school art project, and it’s commanding and incredibly inspiring. These people will not be moved, not even by the charring weather of their country’s summer, and they’re letting their government know in a form with a little style and imagination.

Despite the lack of finesse in any of these pieces, it’s the idea of creativity coming out under intense pressure that makes it so powerful. The fact that they are not trained in a particular method of creation gives their work even more clout. These are not artists making poetic statements about injustice in the world; these are real people expressing their rage and defiance in a new form. The people of Bahrain, with the government trying to silence them in the most extreme and literal way, have let their voices be heard through art.

The government of Bahrain has torn down the Roundabout, promising instead to put in traffic lights as a more effective way of passing along the road. It also seems to be a more effective way of traveling without spreading the message of the protestors. The Bahrainis may have lost a place to hang their work but it is doubtful that those who have the will to create can be stopped from doing it. Roundabout or not, there is hope for them and their air conditioners.