Sometimes, I step away from my usual style to dive into satirical illustration—using art to expose situations, denounce injustices, and poke fun at events.
This one had been sitting in my pocket for a while; I thought it was the right time to bring it out.
Yes, in France and across Europe, we are lucky compared to many other countries. We enjoy a wide range of social benefits.
But since I was recently encouraged to use my art to share, support, and convey messages—let’s go for it!
Just two days ago, in the emergency room of a hospital in the 57 area, endless queues gathered exhausted elderly patients, overwhelmed medical staff crying out about the lack of personnel, all while struggling with a new IT system imposed by consultants who have never set foot in high-pressure frontline conditions.
In a shopping mall, financially struggling customers were trying to make ends meet, while a cashier confided in me about how hard it is for her to hold on until retirement.
And then there’s the elite (a highly debatable term), talking about grand strategies, reforms (which always seem to come hand in hand with the so-called elite—a two-variable equation), and fresh-out-of-school young adults (trained in theory, not in the realities of the field) lecturing the people…
These great sermons calling on the workforce to give even more, to delay vacations, because only the goal matters—while turnover hits record highs and burnout becomes the new normal…
So yes, sometimes I put aside my love for fantasy and sci-fi to draw crude lines that depict an equally crude reality.
Sure, the banks of the Seine have been lit up to offer the Olympic Games to the people—it’s important to dream together, no doubt.
But the banks of capitalism can no longer contain the rising tide. It’s time to start bailing.
As Howard Zinn said: “But remember, this power of the people on top depends on the obedience of the people below. When people stop obeying, they have no power."
Howard Zinn encore : « Nous ne sommes pas obligés d’accomplir des grandes actions héroïques pour participer au processus du changement. De petits actes multipliés par des millions de personnes peuvent transformer le monde. »
Deeyah Khan: « art is a form of resistance»