Anonymous artist behind the pro-Palestinian murals

Meet the anonymous artist behind the Pro-Palestinian murals on the wall of apartheid
The Israeli illegal wall that cuts the occupied celebration is not limited to a portrait of oppression against the Palestinian people; Through art, it also tells a story of resilience and survival.

In the heart of the occupied West Bank, amidst the extent of concrete of Israel's illegal separation wall, a mysterious European artist known only by the online pseudonym “Cakes Stencils” is using his art to create a visual narrative of the lasting struggle of Palestinians. Its screens are the harsh walls of the oppressive structure, but its art transcends concrete reality, telling a moving history of resistance and resilience.

"I'm working in public space to give people the opportunity to rethink the wall and see how people suffer because of apartheid," Cakes Stencils told Memo. His art, along with that of many others, adorns the separation wall, turning it into a screen that protests against the Israeli occupation and calls for freedom for the Palestinians.

The artist, who made nearly 20 bold trips to the busy West Bank, shares his navigation experiences in the dangerous landscape. Cakes Stencils reveals: “As I traveled so many times to the area, I know which surveillance towers are occupied by soldiers and which are empty. So, I know what is the best time to paint on the wall. ”

In front of soldiers shouting from the watchdows, Cakes Stencils returns several times until his artwork is complete and has so far been anonymous with the occupation. The first stencil, completed in 2017, portrays a girl jumping using barbed wire, symbolizing the resilience of Palestinian children in the face of life's daily struggle surrounded by Israeli occupation forces.

In an act of challenge against the active apartheid regime, Cakes Stencils captures the essence of Palestinian life and resistance in his art. “This shows that children in Palestine have fun, they are trying to have fun, even if the apartheid regime is there. Even if the soldiers intimidate these children. They do not lose hope. They can still have a lot of fun, ”explains Cakes Stencils.

His risky efforts invite viewers to confront the harsh reality of apartheid and reflect on the daily life of Palestinians. “I am trying to give them the idea that the occupation and apartheid are not just the wall, but that bad things happen to the Palestinian people, with the children. Children are killed because of the occupation. The Palestinians are dying because of the occupation. ”

Cakes Stencils challenges erroneous conceptions about the separation wall, emphasizing that it is not a “border” between Israel and Palestine, but a structure that perpetuates apartheid, preventing people from having access to their own land. The illegal barrier of the 710 kilometers long, disturbing the lives of the Palestinians, restricting their movements and swallowing their lands. She is still standing and is being expanded, although she was initially presented as a temporary security measure by Israel for two decades.
“The fact that children play with barbed wire in my art also shows that the Palestinian people are strong, who still find a way to enjoy life and have dreams. This is the main message behind the barbed wire. ”

In a world where Gaza's continuous bombing continues to occupy headlines, Cakes Stencils uses his art to encourage critical thinking, reminding people that Palestinians, like all peoples, deserve freedom, and the separation wall is a wall from barriers to this aspiration. Through his anonymous but impactful work, he contributes to a global conversation about justice, freedom and the lasting force of the Palestinian people.