The Art of Demonstration Exhibit Explores Emergence of Online Protests

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http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,809881,00.html


Scott Nelson/ Agentur Focus/ DER SPIEGEL
A new art exhibition in Frankfurt draws connections between demonstrations past and present. In the case of Egyptian artist Aalam Wassef, it studies how online activism has transformed protesting and become a work of art in itself -- but one that can cost people their lives.

Aalam Wassef prefers to meet in the place where he spends most of his time, the place where he's changing the world: online. The 41-year-old works as an artist in Cairo, but he's also an activist, and he takes advantage of the possibilities the Internet offers. When he posts one of his film clips on YouTube, it quickly gets between 140,000 and 150,000 clicks. In these videos, Wassef calls for a second, more radical revolution in Egypt. He even specifies the date, Jan. 25, the first anniversary of the Egyptian uprising. He's living dangerously.

Getting a direct Skype connection with Wassef is only partially possible. The sound works, allowing one to hear the revolutionary's melodic voice as well as car horns and a rattling moped in the background. But there is no picture, which Wassef says is typical.

For years, Wassef derided former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak online. He eventually even called on his fellow Egyptians to take to the streets. He did so with a casual tone, as if merely inviting people to meet up, but it could have cost him his life. Only after Mubarak was overthrown in February 2011 did Wassef reveal his true identity. The pseudonym he used online was Ahmad Sherif and, of course, he never showed images of himself. But, over the last year, Wassef has used his real identity online. "I don't want to hide anymore," he says.