Calendar 2007, 2007

Dan Perjovschi is an internationally renowned artist and political activist. Best known for his use of cartoon and comic illustrations to graffiti walls, windows, ceilings, doors and floors all over the world, the Romanian artist seeks to speak out against current political, economic and societal issues. Although he studied painting for twelve years, he prefers to draw his satire with the simple line from a marker or piece of chalk. Dan Perjovschi uses articles or news reports for inspiration, and as a result, all of his works are a humorous yet bitter observations of reality. The post-communist and post-modernist artist was born the same year the Berlin Wall was built, and to use Perjovschi’s words, he was born “on the wrong side of it.” During communist times, his artistic freedom of speech was restricted to drawings with two interpretations – one for the government, and one for his political commentary. While the other side of the Berlin wall was littered with graffiti, he drew on the walls of his own, confined apartment. It is this constraint from his youth that motivates him to be politically active. As he says, “I will never forget that 1 000 people died so I can speak now.” (Artist website)