November 29, 2017- Syrian protest art served as a critical form of non-violent expression during the uprisings against the Assad government starting in 2011. Recognizing the work's historic significance, the British Museum recently acquired a collection of posters, prints drawings and photographs produced during the conflict, and turned them into a unique exhibit, "Living Histories."
"A New Lens on Syrian Protest Art" discussed works from the British Museum's Syrian art archive and examined the significance and implications of acquiring protest art by major arts institutions. Malu Halasa, co-editor of the award winning book Syria Speaks (2014) was joined by Islamic Art Curator of the British Museum Venetia Porter to discuss the power of protest art and the role of museums in engaging audiences around both historic and present-day narratives.