Art attack: Creative campaigns to ensure hostages are not forgotten

French artist Henri Matisse famously said “creativity takes courage” – a sentiment that feels particularly poignant as creatives around the world turn to the streets to try to keep alive awareness of the hostages held by Hamas since October 7.

Large-scale murals, physical installations and collaborative cross-border art projects are among the many tools being used by international artists to advocate for the safe return of the more than 120 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza.

Tunnel vision

To commemorate 100 days of captivity, families of those kidnapped built a mock tunnel to raise awareness of the dire conditions faced by the hostages in Hamas’ underground network. The interactive reconstruction – set up outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art – is deliberately dark, cramped and includes the names of the hostages and messages of hope etched into the walls.

Piano man