Black Hand’s stenciling is popping up around Tehran and raising eyebrows.
Meet Black Hand, the self-described Bansky of Iran, who has been coloring the streets of Tehran with his inventive stencil work and satiric political and social commentary.
Iran strictly censors street art and only allows state-sponsored murals and wall paintings that often depict political events and deceased soldiers. Black Hand told The Guardian he modeled his work after the UK-based graffiti artist Bansky and his iconic stenciling technique. The artist also told The Guardian he prefers to remain anonymous — given that making unauthorized art is considered a crime.
"The public has a right to see the art," Black Hand told The Guardian. "I chose street art because I want to guard against the galleries' monopoly. Our intellectual and artistic society are underestimating and ignoring ordinary people's power."
An unofficial Facebook page where Black Hand's work is shared has documented several cases in which Black Hand's street art has been defaced within hours. But Black Hand strategically puts his work in popular public places so people can snap pictures and upload them online before municipal workers are sent to take the art down, IranWire reported.
When Iran banned women from watching soccer matches in stadiums, Black Hand took up the cause. In June, he drew this woman wearing Iran's national Jersey and cleaning gloves while holding up her trophy — dishwashing soap.
