Content warning: Skid Robot Creates Awareness on Extreme Poverty Using Street Art Skid Robot is a Los Angeles-based graffiti artist known for using his art to bring awareness to homelessness and extreme poverty. His journey began with a spontaneous idea to paint people ex
Skid Robot Creates Awareness on Extreme Poverty Using Street Art
Skid Robot is a Los Angeles-based graffiti artist known for using his art to bring awareness to homelessness and extreme poverty. His journey began with a spontaneous idea to paint people experiencing homelessness as dreaming of money, sparking a larger movement.
His artwork “Birdman” even caught the attention of Mayor Eric Garcetti, leading to significant policy change. Skid Robot’s mission is to challenge social and economic injustices through his thought-provoking street art.
Through his powerful street art, Kevin Lee shines a light on poverty and inspires conversations about compassion and change
Just because you can’t see it, does that mean it isn’t there?
This question lies at the heart of UNICEF China’s 2008 campaign, which sheds light on the often-overlooked issue of child poverty in China. Through a series of striking photographs by Kevin Lee, Haohui Zhou, and Bin Liu, homeless children in Beijing were painted to blend seamlessly into their surroundings, making their presence almost invisible within the urban landscape.
One of the most unforgettable images shows a boy sitting on a set of stone steps, his body painted so intricately that he nearly disappears into the background. Beside him, a sign reads, “不要忽略我” (“Don’t ignore me”), with smaller text below revealing the heartbreaking reality: over 1.5 million underprivileged children in China need help. The message calls for awareness and action, urging viewers to recognize the unseen struggles these children face every day.
‘The Invisibility Of Poverty’
The campaign, led by Kevin Lee in Beijing in 2008, achieved a remarkable impact by raising $30,000 USD within just five days, providing vital assistance to children in need. Over a decade later, these visuals remain as powerful and relevant as ever, continuing to inspire empathy and action in the fight against child poverty.
In today’s fast-paced world, this campaign reminds us to slow down and truly see those who are often overlooked. It highlights the enduring power of art to spark change and create awareness, proving that creative expression can bring visibility to important issues and inspire hope for a better future.
Los Angeles-based graffiti artist known as Skid Robot, speaks on his beginnings with creating art that calls attention to poverty and homelessness. He says i...
Content warning: Dave Baranes is a French graffiti artist known for his powerful murals featuring animals threatened by extinction. Through his art, he seeks to raise awareness about the fragility of wildlife, often depicting these creatures in urban environments being ha
Dave Baranes is a French graffiti artist known for his powerful murals featuring animals threatened by extinction.
Through his art, he seeks to raise awareness about the fragility of wildlife, often depicting these creatures in urban environments being harmed by human hands. His work is a blend of environmental activism and street art, bringing attention to critical ecological issues through visually striking creations.
White Tigers by Dave Baranes of a white tiger in Nogent-sur-Marne, France:
Dave Baranes: I mainly paint animals threatened with extinction. I take them out of their environment to put them in a more urban universe in which we see human hands damaging what surrounds them.
Jaguar by Dave Baranes in Nogent-sur-Marne, France:
Wolfs by Dave Baranes in Nogent-sur-Marne, France:
Gorilla by Dave Baranes in Nogent-sur-Marne, France:
Black Jaguar by Dave Baranes in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France:
For more of Dave Baranes’ incredible work, showcasing his unique blend of graffiti and environmental activism, head over to his Instagram at @dave_baranes. There, you’ll find more of his striking murals featuring endangered animals, along with updates on his latest projects and collaborations. It’s the perfect place to explore his mission to raise awareness through art.
