‘Paint the Cruelty' Event with İlhami Atalay and His Students: Support from Hagia Sophia to Palestine through Art

On the first anniversary of Israel's attacks on Gaza, the ‘Paint the Cruelty’ event organised by İlhami Atalay and his students in front of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque drew attention to the persecution of the Palestinian people through art. The event brought together different segments of society and emphasised the support for Palestine through art as a means of protest.

The ‘Paint the Cruelty’ event was organised in front of Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque to express support for Palestine on the anniversary of Israel's attacks on Gaza. Fatih, Bağcılar, Esenler and Sultangazi municipalities also supported the event hosted by Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports and coordinated by Vefa Youth Centre. The programme started in front of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque with a broad participation and emphasised the importance of taking a stand against oppression using art.

The Event Started with the Recitation of the Qur'an and Reacted to Oppression Through Art

The event started with the recitation of the Holy Quran in order to provide moral support to the Palestinian people. Then, İlhami Atalay, the painter who received the Presidential Culture and Art Grand Award, took the stage and drew attention to the importance of this event, which was organised by the unifying power of art in order to remind the oppression in Gaza. Atalay said, ‘Art sometimes comes into play where words are not enough. We express our support for Palestine through art. Remaining silent about Israel's cruelty is a betrayal of humanity, so we will continue to raise our voice by using the power of art.’

Stating that Israel has acted with a mentality that has harmed humanity throughout history, Atalay added: ‘We are faced with a nation that kills prophets and persecutes people. Our duty is to announce this cruelty to the world through art and not to let it be forgotten’. Emphasising that the slogan ‘Paint the Cruelty’ symbolises this stance, Atalay stated that they are always ready to support the Palestinian cause.

Live Performances by Artists: Palestine's Voice Rises Through Art

One of the most remarkable moments of the event was the live performances of the artists. İlhami Atalay, the Painter, and other artists created works on large canvases describing the persecution in Gaza. While the participants were watching the live performances of the artists, boycott messages were given. In the boycott-themed event, artists expressed in the form of art the oppression and persecution of the Palestinian people by Israel.

The destructiveness of the war, the suffering of innocent civilians and the resistance of the Palestinian people were emphasised in the works of the artists. The works revealed that art is not only an aesthetic value but also a tool that carries a social message. The participants watched the works produced by the artists in support of Palestine, expressing that such events should increase.

Many art lovers who attended the event stated that art is one of the most effective ways to stand against oppression.

In the event, children had a great time with Superbus, the project of Public Relations Office of Fatih Municipality. Fatih Municipality also offered soup to the citizens.

Message of Resistance Through Art

Speaking at the end of the event, İlhami Atalay, the painter stated that support for the Palestinian cause should not be limited to a single day and added: ‘This event is a means for art to take a stance against oppression. We will continue to work to ensure using art that Palestine is not forgotten and to show that we are on their side.’ Atalay expressed that the activities will continue and they will continue to support the Palestinian people through art.

The participants showed their support for Palestine with prayers and slogans throughout the event and once again saw how art can be a means of resistance against oppression. As the event concluded with the end of the live performances of the artists, the audience emphasised that the incidents in Gaza should not be forgotten and how vital it is to announce to the world that the Palestinian people are not alone.

The Power of Art for Palestine

The ‘Paint the Cruelty’ event showed that art is not only an aesthetic tool, but also an important means of protest and resistance in social issues. This event organised in Fatih once again demonstrated that art can stand against oppression and that support for the Palestinian cause should be maintained on every platform. This event, which has become a symbol of support for Palestine, demonstrated the power of art in raising social awareness.

The ‘Paint the Cruelty’ event showed that art is an effective tool against oppression and that support for the Palestinian people can be expressed more strongly through art. This boycott-themed event was an important step to publicise the persecution in Palestine to the world public opinion. Participants reiterated their belief in the unifying and resistance power of art and stated that such events should continue.