Why Art Creates Freedom Of Expression

Here is a short 3/4 page article to really clarify why I started this group. Without art how could there be any freedom of expression?

Two months ago I met a friend at Amnesty who inspired me with her ideas and her words. So I researched the protests and I realised people like LEYLA FARZADI are fighting not just against the state - but for the right to speak their voice - to speak as individuals. This is how I perceive it.

For artists up here who were speaking and working with me - will know my work is almost never political - it is often based on musical expression - or the integration of art and music - which has long been a serious challenge that I work within.

What I want to achieve is to motivate artists up here on artreview to contribute images dedicated to LEYLA FARZADI that will take away the attention from the media.

If people around the world researching the protests in Iran do nothing but read the newspaper articles they will become overwhelmed, this is a natural phenomena with taking in too much newspaper information. However if they come across a portfolio of imagery that is made in support of people like LEYLA FARZADI - more over images that talk about the underlying thing that they are fighting for, then the medium is moved over and the reader is able to view the information in a new and engaging way. The message has the potential to be fortified in this way.

I want to thank Vivian for making an effort to do some portrait work for LEYLA FARZADI as I myself have almost zero experience making portraits and rely on experience in mixed media. In my view portraits give people who struggle and fight for freedom - of any kind - more of a voice because you can see the person. So LEYLA'S story can resonate not just in Iran, and not just through Amnesty but into the western world via the worlds of art and literature.

My intention is to have at least 10 images that have LEYLA'S name in the title up on the web before december.

Luke Gilliam