In 1937, Spanish artist Pablo Picasso created Guernica, an oil on canvas, which is widely regarded as the most moving and powerful anti-war painting in history. The piece poignantly depicts the suffering caused by the violence and chaos of war, and was painted in response to the bombing of its namesake Spanish city by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Over the years, art and artists have essayed a crucial role in holding up a mirror to pertinent global issues. And with tensions escalating between Ukraine and Russia, homegrown artists have taken brush to canvas once again.

I’m urging people to make art, not war

For Navi Mumbai-based artist Avantika Mathur, her feelings of helplessness and strong desire to “do something about it” prompted her to take to the streets with her paints. She’s created a mural inspired by the popular 1960s anti-war mantra, which was first coined by American artist Shephard Fairley. “Fairley asserted the need for creative rather than destructive acts. On hearing the news about Russian soldiers advancing into Ukraine, as an artist situated thousands of miles away, I felt heartbroken. The only thing I can do is to spread the message of love and peace through my art. I urge people to consider: how will the human race prevail without humanity?” she elaborated. The mural is located in Sector 9, CBD Belapur.
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