CAIRO - Many people have been flocking to the downtown Mashrabia Gallery to look at the ‘wireless' paintings currently being exhibited there. The ‘Wireless' exhibition has been inspired by Egypt's recent revolt, which, as the Italian artist Xavier Puigmarti says, “showed the power of skilful communication to ignite revolutions”. Despite the key role played by social media in fuelling the January 25 uprising, it was the people's immense desire for change, after three decades of authoritarian rule, which drove them out onto the streets to demand that long-serving strongman Hosni Mubarak must go. Such an incessant, unquenched thirst for freedom was the reason why the mass protests escalated when the Internet and mobile services were, to no avail, shut down in the early days of the revolution. In an attempt to quell dissent and halt the protests, the former Government came up with a ‘smart' idea: depriving its citizens of the Internet to keep information from reaching them. Little did they know that this would have the opposite effect. This ‘sound' decision proved to be a golden opportunity for people to communicate in the real rather than the virtual world, and, hence, helped trigger protests. The ousted regime didn't realise that the Internet had already done what it was most afraid of ��" mobilise the people. Nor did it realise that collective action was far more potent than the electronic information it saw as a threat to the ruling regime. The digital disconnection was a blessing in disguise, pushing millions of young people out into the streets to communicate, instead of staying unconnected in their homes. To the surprise of the whole world, they managed, with their astounding organisational skills, grit, defiance and unity, to launch their impressive, peaceful revolution, which upended Mubarak's repressive regime. The ‘skilful communication' which Egyptians showed during the revolution inspired Puigmarti to depict the ability of people to connect without cables, meaning without Internet or mobile phone access. In a painting entitled ‘Demonstration', Puigmarti shows how Egyptians connected, in order to bring as many people as possible together. It depicts a small group of people speaking up (using their hands to makes their voices louder), while the colours of the Egyptian flag are scattered all over the canvas, showing that the voices of this small group inspired thousands of others to join them. “When some people have the courage to speak out ��" to break the wall of fear ��" they inspire others to speak out too. This what happened in Egypt. The peaceful voices calling for change and reform emboldened millions of Egyptians to take to the streets to demand their rights,” Puigmarti told The Egyptian Gazette. In another painting, entitled ‘Cosmic', the artist portrays a lamppost whose cables have been disconnected, while someone holding the Egyptian flag stands above it. It reflects the Egyptians' euphoria ��" they were victorious, despite the former regime's attempts to disconnect them. To describe the role of satellite TV in communicating people by broadcasting live footage of the protests in Al Tahrir Square and other parts of Egypt, Puigmarti has also done a very dark painting called ‘Signals'. “This exhibition highlights the fact that determined people can perform miracles. Despite the suppression, the Egyptians rose up and ousted the dictator,” Anne, a French visitor to the exhibition, said. The ‘Wireless' exhibition, being held in the Mashrabia Gallery, 8, Champollion St, downtown Cairo (02-2578-4494), is open daily from 11am to 8pm except on Fridays, until May 5.
