Earlier this year London received a visit from Palestinian street artist Taqi Spateen, who visited the UK from his home in the West Bank with the help of the Bethlehem Cultural Festival and hit up eight exceptional artworks all reflecting various aspects of the plight of his nation and homeland amid the ongoing Occupation, genocide and ethnic cleansing it is relentlessly subject to, while the world stands by either supporting or powerless to stop what these people are facing – something no people should be subject to. Of the eight artworks placed up in the UK, five of which were in London, with the works in Brick Lane and Penge definitely still up to be seen at current – we cannot speak for the two works in West London as we have not seen them since they went up. We do however have pictures of each of the pieces to share with you below. Taqi Spateen certainly painted some of the most interesting and powerful artworks we have ever seen. 

Work in Princelet Street, Brick Lane.

Work by Taqi Spateen x Jimmy C in Hanbury Street, Brick Lane. Placed up with support from Not Banksy Forum.

This work was inspired by Taqi Spateen’s desire to portray the beauty of his homeland – something that is completely overlooked – which was so strikingly articulated by Jimmy C on the natural scenery, which is sharply contrasted by the brutal, dark and dull man made constructions of the oppressors. In this work there are a mole and a bird in the foreground, setting to highlight that under the Occupation the only ones who have freedom of movement are those that can fly over or tunnel under the walls. An exceptional artwork and so powerfully articulated by Taqi Spateen and Jimmy C.

‘Anatomy of Enemies’ at the Penge Rooftop Gallery, Penge. Placed up with support from ourselves London Calling Blog.

Certainly a powerful artwork that speaks so much. Of this piece Taqi Spateen states “Blood won’t become water anyway, nothing extinguishes the uprising. There is nothing uglier than insisting on remaining the ugliest person on the Earth. The world rose up and called for you to stop…and you didn’t”.

Work under the Westway Floyover, Ladbroke Grove.

Work under the Westway Floyover, Ladbroke Grove.