With unrest as widespread as ever in Iran, artists, and creators from all around the world have revolted against the injustices and censorship Iranian women are facing. AleXsandro Palombo is one of those who have taken a stand against the oppression and corruption being inflicted by the Iranian government.
Palombo, an Italian contemporary Pop artist and activist, found his muse in Marge Simpson whom he painted outside of the Iranian Consulate in Milan. Originally entitled ‘The Cut’, Palombo’s street art featured Marge having chopped off her iconic blue beehive in a show of solidarity. Within less than 24 hours, however, the mural was removed. A few weeks later, Palombo returned to the scene and resurrected Marge in ‘The Cut 2’ whereby her initially sombre expression was replaced by a much more enraged one, accompanied by her middle finger standing upright.
The Cut 1 and The Cut 2
by AleXsandro Palombo
Palombo told ANTAGONIZINE:
“The choice of representing Marge Simpson is targeted because since 2012 the government of Iran has banned the marketing and broadcasting of the Simpsons because according to the regime, they "corrode the morale of Iranian youth". If Marge Simpson is banned from entering Iran, nothing prevents her from expressing her dissent to the regime in front of the Iranian consulate in Italy. Here we are in democracy, that universal value of the right to freedom for which the brave Iranian people fight at the cost of their lives.
“The first work was removed in less than 24 hours and the appearance of the second made Iranian consulate officials very angry. Officers turned to photographers asking aggressively to stop taking pictures and filming the artwork. The police arrived after a while but could not do anything to defend them from the dangerous Marge.”
Protests and discord have erupted since the unlawful death of 22-year-old, Mahsa Amini, back in September. After being detained in Tehran by the morality police for showing too much hair, Amini was hauled into a white van and taken to a detention centre for “re-education”. She was taken to hospital where she was pronounced brain dead and two days later, she died of cardiac arrest. Speculations around her suspicious death continue to propagate. Footage was leaked on social media of her in the police interrogation room where she appears to collapse onto the table in front of her. Iranian authorities claim that her death was a result of pre-existing health conditions, but it is alleged that she was, in fact, beaten to death by police officials.
The revolution began in Amini’s hometown in Kurdistan shortly after her passing and disseminated across the country and the globe. Amini’s death has catalysed a rebellion epidemic. Just a few weeks back, at one of the opening games of the World Cup, the Iran players refused to sing their national anthem in support of the resistance. The song, which features lyrics such as “independence and freedom is imprinted on our souls” is particularly potent considering the current circumstances. A woman-led uprising; this movement has had a profound impact all over the world. They have adopted a chant which has its roots in the Kurdish feminist movement, “Jin, Jîyan, Azadî”. Translating to “Women, Life, Freedom”, this slogan is particularly resonant in addressing the cruelty committed against Amini whose Kurdish name, Jîna, poignantly means the word ‘life’ itself.
Photographed by Justin Tang/The Canadian Press.
Although the Iranian police have been reinforced by paramilitaries, or the ‘Basij’, in an effort to regain full control, the brave women of Iran continue to stand their ground on their right to choose whether to wear the hijab. Iran is a leaderless country but a theocratic one albeit. The country’s sentiments are dominant and destabilising this system is quite the challenge to undertake. Palombo comments on this, he says:
“I don't see a bright future for the [Iranian] regime. For so many years, we have witnessed in Iran continuous violations of human rights and women are subjected to leading lives imprisoned by barbaric rules imposed by the dictatorship. The time has come to wipe out this mediaeval regime. Iranian women have the right to their freedom because their freedom is our freedom.”
It is tough to confirm the figures due to a lack of independent reporting in Iran, however, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) estimates that around 475 protesters have been killed, including children, and approximately 18,242 have been detained (as of 07/12/22).
Figures published by HRANA.
As citizens of the Western and, seemingly, democratic world, we must stand against the suppression that the Iranian establishment imposes. We must use our freedom of our speech, acknowledge our privilege, and use it to our advantage to emancipate our courageous Iranian counterparts. Palombo states, “Our support is essential: it becomes a shield for them, and media attention is an obstacle against all the injustices and barbarities perpetrated by the regime.” If we do not use our voices to speak up against injustice, then we too are complicit in wrongdoing. Art, writing and expression in general are fundamental facets of maintaining our own democracies, they allow for the free exchange of ideas, opinions, and information. The Cut 1 & 2 encourage their beholders to consider this. The fairytale juxtaposes the harsh reality.
Palombo resolves that:
“Censorship is devastating because it does not give us the opportunity to see things transparently, it does not lead us to real reflection, it is a terrible gag that deprives us of our freedom of expression. Censorship shouldn't be underestimated and the only way we have to fight it is to educate the new generations in order for them to be able to analyse reality and spread the truth. We need to educate young people to spread authentic content rich in culture because censorship gets stronger with disinformation and the mystification of reality.”
We reached out to the Iranian Consulate of Milan to comment on Palombo’s mural; they have yet to respond.
Palombo, whose work “investigates the most human aspects of society” and tries “to get to the root of social issues that involve real lives”, stands alongside the likes of Hossein Derakhshan and Shervin Hajipour- two creators who were detained as political prisoners in Iran. Derakhshan, known otherwise as the Iranian ‘Blog-Father’ was imprisoned from 2008-2014 as a result of his published writing. Hajipour released the controversial song 'Baraye' just this year. Quickly becoming the anthem of the protest, its lyrics including lines like “For my sister, your sister, our sisters” and “For women, life, freedom”, ‘Baraye’ caused quite a stir. Days after its release, Hajipour was arrested, and the song was removed from various platforms. After being discharged from police custody, he has remained silent. In response to this, Palombo remarks that “Courage is something you either have or don’t have. Iranian women are a great inspiration, their courage is a great lesson for all humanity. They are reminding us that freedom is not forever and that it is our duty to defend it every day.”
His works, he says, are “an antisocial anaesthetic, a way to lead to reflection and awaken consciences.” We should all take a leaf out of the book Palombo, Derakhshan and Hajipour are reading out of. On what may seem like a minor scale, we can spread the word and raise awareness substantially. Sharing and consuming works like these alone can have a weighty effect. Perhaps not quite as intrepid a move as those who risk their lives for their liberation on a daily basis, however, we mustn’t remain bystanders to their pain.
Cardi B, actually proved to be an admirer of AleXsandro Palombo’s work, paying ode to his illustrious pop artwork, Marge Simpson Style Icon in Thierry Mugler (pictured below), on Halloween this year. Neither she nor her team contacted Palombo for authorisation. They omitted credit to the artist- providing an excellent example of what not to do when sharing or using an artist’s work. Palombo is disheartened by this, he told us that “I have never given my consent to use, rebuild and publish my artwork on her social channels. Now they will have to answer to my lawyer.”
The artwork used without authorization by Cardi B is part of the “Marge Simpson Style Icon” series that the artist created back in 2013. Vogue UK revealed this series and it shortly became one of Palombo’s most esteemed works. The furious artist asserts that Cardi B and her collaborators’ unjust use of his work without consent “debases its original meaning and only to amplify their image with a clear commercial purpose that has nothing to do with that path of social awareness that has always characterized my works .”
An iconic look, nonetheless, Cardi B’s reluctance to credit Palombo is a pity. As such a celebrated artist herself, she too had the opportunity to enhance the career of another talented creator but sadly, she refrained. Palombo insists, however, that he is “still very much committed to important causes such as those of Iranian women's rights.”
Unfortunately, Palombo is no stranger to censorship. His work which featured Vladimir Putin, entitled Russian Roulette. The Tsar's Suicide, was removed back in March of this year. Painted in Milan city, this artwork (pictured below) stood in support of the endurance of the Ukrainian people under the constant threat of Putin’s wrath. “Apparently, Vladimir Putin’s repressive and censorious action also affects Milan city…Silence makes us accomplices”, the artist posted on Instagram.
Palombo’s other works include a series of Disney Princesses and other caricatured comrades with mastectomies entitled Survivor depicting them as Breast Cancer Survivors, another Marge Simpson feat called Break the Taboo which attempts to normalise menstruation and period poverty, as well as Never Again where ‘The Simpsons go to Auschwitz’ for Holocaust Remembrance Day (all pictured below). You can view more of Palombo’s work on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Palombo is a political pariah and activist- you, the reader, the viewer, and the listener can be too. We must claim our agency as more than just passive observers of his work. If Palombo’s work (and, of course, the bravery of the Iranian women) instils anything in us, it is to stand in the face of adversity and fight for what you believe in: no matter the handicap.
Snow White in the Survivor Series by AleXsandro Palombo
Never Again by AleXsandro Palombo
Break the Taboo by AleXsandro Palombo
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