Israa Ray, Nour Rida

Art is commonly known as the abstract expression of feelings, thoughts, and reflections of an artists' inner psyche. When one imagines art, he intuitively describes it as a creative means to get his message through, without any restrictions or norms. Different arts include social, psychological, or even political art. But ever heard of Resistance Art?

&&vid&&

 "Resistance Designers" is a campaign, that was launched this year, with its Facebook page created beginning of May, 2013 by Lebanese Graphic Designers, photographers, and even amateurs to deliver an eye-opening message to "Israel": We will come at you with every means possible, including art, we will defend our cause and conviction, we do not only resist with arms, rather with all physical, intellectual, abstract and concrete means possible.

Around 200 designers participate in this group, all of different styles and angles, yet under the same cultural tent; the culture of resistance.
Participants described themselves as "Designers and artist activists who dedicate this page to the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon."

Their goal, however, is "communication, interaction, and working together in the domain of resistance and art."
Activities in these groups include workshops that boost these designers' creativity, weekly meetings to brainstorm new ideas, increase awareness on soft and psychological war, daily contact amongst each other, and slogans and posters made according to the occasion. Most of these activists, in first place, were virtual friends, and got acquainted to each other after the initiative they had made.
The young activists, males and females, decided to get together in an unprecedented campaign via social networking to spread their words of resistance, only through art.

"Almost 120 groups on Facebook take our productions to publish on their pages, not to mention other websites and blogs" Ahmad al-Hajj, an activist in Resistance Designers said.

"We want to employ our work to serve the Resistance path, especially that it is being subject to a violent attack on social media. We want to face this campaign with our thoughts and designs in order to promote the truth," he added.
"The artistic role of such a page is that it gives a pleasant impression that we are indeed sophisticated and educated, in contrary to the stereotype with which some people picture us," Mahmoud Rteil, another participant, remarked.

Spoiler alert! The group announced it will publish up to 200 exclusive photos dating back to the 2000 liberation, commemorating what they dub "first Arab victory", in reference to the May 2000 event in Southern Lebanon.
These photos, as the group remarks, have not been published before on official media outlets.
However, what is the importance of such a group amidst the significant role that social media plays in conflicts, particularly the Arab-"Israeli" conflict? Graphic designers tell al-Ahed News.

"An image easily imprints onto the mind, and through our designs, we try to make people easily catch the visual message we are trying to send. A picture is worth a thousand words, so we try to make the public opinion aware of the path of resistance and boost the resistance's presence media-wise," Ahmad al-Hajj said.
"We are in the middle of a Soft War, where our word, image, and design are our weapons. There will come a time when this camera, drawing, or design will turn into a direct weapon against the chests of the "Israeli" enemy," Mohammad Ali Jaber, a graphic designer active in this Facebook campaign told our website.
"Some believe that Facebook is a waste of time, but we try to seize this time in a useful way for the resistance in a way that we love," Mahmoud Dateir said, adding "there is also an attempt to take this campaign on the ground."
 
His design-pal, Ali Zein, declared they are willing to take their posters and resistance arts work to the Lebanese borders, where Fatima gate stands, the gate from which coward "Israel" ran away back then!"
He noted that "Israel" has been for sure affected by the group, as "Israeli" officer Avichay Adree responded by posting via his facebook account what the designers described as an 'amateur's' image that reads "65 years of dignity and perseverence. Commenting on the response, Abir, another designer, voiced that such response proves they are irritated by the work, thus proving it fruitful.
"The Zionist enemy has been eating defeats since the year 2000, it proved they are not only weak but coward," she said.

"Maybe I can't fight and hold a gun, but I can resist through my art," Abir added emphasizing the importance of the volunteer work being accomplished.

She added "I'm not much of a talker, so I express my opinions and feelings through art of resistance."
Asked about their personal work on the occasion of May 25, The Day of Resistance and Liberation, Ahmad proudly described, "I made a slogan for Liberation Day that says ‘we revive your frustration'. I try to exhibit the "Israeli" shame to the public opinion, since "Israel" is already aware of its frustration, but there are some people who still don't accept the idea that resistance is our legal right."

As for Abir, "I did a poster about a Mujahed (Resistance fighter). He holds a Hizbullah flag flapping on a hill full of "Israeli" helmets. He stepped on top of them as he went up the hill. I also had poppy flowers, which symbolize the martyrs, breaking through the "Israeli" helmets."
"The more you make people think about it, the more you deliver the message harder," she added.

"In my designs, I try to highlight that "Israel" did not withdraw from South Lebanon back in 2000 by an international resolution; it withdrew under fire and under the resistance's strikes," Mahmoud Rteil voiced.
"Usually there is a war Front at war, we are at the Virtual Front of fighting with the enemy, which is considered to be just as important as the military front," he believed.

Moreover, he added, "Our people were victorious through its endurance and faith. We did not wait an international resolution to make "Israel" retreat; the people and resistance and army made "Israel" retreat."

Source: english.alahednews