Iconography in the Tahrir Movement (original) (raw)

Tahrir square has become a global symbol of freedom and the struggle for democracy in the Arab world. While images showing millions of people in the streets are imprinted in our minds, there existed a different form of opposition just as powerful and symbolic -Street Art. How is ideology challenged with the use of iconology? Are they the same? An important part of street art is where it is exhibited and the mediums that are chosen for its display. Whether concrete, brick or stone, the relationship between the space and art begins to tell a story unique to that location. Image and text become indistinguishable tools within the iconography of Tahrir as we explore the methods on how to read it. Can we think of each image as a single moment or as a process? The paper attempts to apply a methodology to enhance our understanding of contemporary art in context, where in this case the relationship between the art, people and city is explored.