Starting today, an exhibit at the MICA museum in London will feature pieces created by artists in Egypt during this time of revolution. Works of protest toward the oppressive regime, be they painting or graffiti, are being put on display both for their striking beauty, and as tools of education. There are still many who do not know enough to understand the the verbal, financial, and written suppression many in Egypt face. Art, a visual medium, may be able to educate viewers with both immediacy and efficiency. So much is conveyed in a single image.

The exhibit, From Facebook to Nassbook, is part of Shubbak: A Window on Contemporary Arab Culture. The month long event is significant in that it is London’s first ever celebration of contemporary culture from across the Arab world. From Facebook to Nassbook will feature art that tells the story of what led to the ousting of the self-appointed ‘president for life’, Hosni Mubarak. The exhibit will help many understand the whys of the revolution. It will furthermore be a look at what revolution is, what it entails, and what it may mean for the futures of those living in Egypt.

From Facebook to Nassbook also explores the internet as an aid to political expression and freedom. Egypt’s revolution is one of the largest examples yet of Twitter, Facebook, and other networking sites being used as a tool for something much larger. It is one of history’s first examples that cements the internet as much more than a toy or source of entertainment. When the internet was essentially shut down as the people successfully organized revolt through it, word of mouth kept it going. People (or nass, the Egyptian Arabic word for people) to people, with and without technology, spread revolution and continue to do so. Class barriers and religious views were and are being put aside to bring change.

The exhibit aims to capture all of this, from pre-revolution to the current. Of the gallery, MICA states:

From Facebook to Nassbook is a visual response to 21st century changes in lifestyle and technology in Egypt and offers a correlation between pre and post revolutionary symptoms. Highlighting local realities has been essential in the selection of artists living and working in Cairo, which has its own characteristics. Featured artists’ works explore urban existence and focus on Cairo as the central hub of protest responding to themes such as premonition, defiance and fervour, jubilation, remembrance and hope which are deployed via a wide range of mediums like painting, mixed media, installation, photography and social media.

From Facebook to Nassbook will be open starting today until the 8th of September. The Shubbak Festival will continue until the 24th of July.

From Facebook to Nassbook can be followed on Facebook and Twitter.