Abstract

     Art and politics have coexisted for centuries, frequently overlapping the two worlds. Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Banksy use their mediums to convey societal nuances that are often not represented in such visible and accessible ways. Shapes, colors, and figures give a particular perspective that words can usually not encapsulate, reaching a new layer of intimacy for many viewers. Picasso used his cubist style to convey the pain and suffering of his victims, particularly in his famous painting, Guernica. Basquiat’s style is similar to street art in that it is abstract and nonrepresentational; it resonates with his sense of otherness and societal alienation. Banksy, a modern-day street artist, uses public spaces to push his messages and frequently utilizes uninhabited spaces to convey his ideas, such as the hotel in his work Walled Off Hotel. Politics run deep throughout these artists, intertwining themselves into every piece and layer of the art, making it irreversibly poignant.