바카라�My Illustrations Are A Means Of Solidarity바카라�: Indonesian Artist Hestu Nimas On How She Stands With Palestine

An abandoned stethoscope, a safety helmet with a 바카라�Press바카라� tag, an ownerless keffiyeh, and a poster with 바카라�Stand for Humanity바카라� written on a map of Palestine 바카라� all placed together on a yellow background isn바카라�t merely an artistic composition. It is the debris of discarded memories scattered across the streets of ravaged Gaza that may be pushed to the footnotes of history, if not removed altogether. But an artist leaves her impression and it stays, sometimes as evidence of a time when history was compromised.  

Indonesian artist Hestu Nimas is one of the many artists who have been responding to the ongoing apartheid through her works on Instagram. A mother holding her blood-soaked child or a doctor hugging a mother who just lost her child 바카라� the everyday reality of Gaza appears repeatedly in Nimas바카라� illustrations.  

When most of the mainstream media turned their back on the truth, Nimas chose illustrations to share the truth. 바카라�Today바카라�s media has changed, and now it can be turned into a very effective weapon. We can use new media to share our message. I use illustrations as a means to show support and as a form of humanitarian solidarity,바카라� says the artist.  

Born on the island of Java to an artist father, Nimas바카라� upbringing was a bit different. 바카라�I liked staying at home and rarely played outside. I used to love reading books and magazines, listening to music, journalling, and doodling,바카라� says Nimas. And gradually she honed her illustration skills. But she found meaning in art when she took a political stance through it, She says, 바카라�Yes, I stand with Palestine. I strongly support Palestine's freedom, Gaza바카라�s freedom.바카라�  

The imagination of the artist can go far beyond the limits of a specific place. Nimas, who has never been to Gaza, captures Gaza바카라�s harsh reality poignantly. One of her illustrations shows a grieving mother at her daughter바카라�s grave. However, in a surreal turn, her daughter comes up to her from behind, saying, 바카라�Don바카라�t be sad, Umi, I am just sleeping for a while. We will meet again.바카라� Such dream sequences seeped in the hope and faith of meeting their loved ones in Jannat perhaps make them resilient.  

In Nimas바카라� words, 바카라�I positioned myself as being in Gaza. Once, I dreamed at night that I was there. It바카라�s really scary, it바카라�s real. After that, I tried to express it through an illustration. I think about our brothers and sisters, how hard it is for them to survive.바카라�  

One of her strongest illustrations springs from the Islamic idea of sabr or patience. In it, a gun pointed at a Palestinian woman whose mouth is covered to muzzle her voice, reads, 바카라�Duniya breaks, Allah heals.바카라� Through these illustrations, she says, 바카라�I appreciate their tenacity and faith. From them, we learn about imaan; otherwise, the world becomes worthless.바카라�  

As her iconic paintings embossed with 바카라�I Stand with Palestine바카라� fill up her social media feeds, the message spreads far and wide바카라�바카라�We Resist바카라�.  

By not getting used to it, 
By not getting tired, 
By explaining, arguing, fighting 
With friends, family, neighbours, 
Co-workers and acquaintances, 
By risking to lose our job.... 
We Resist!