Overland literary journal

105 000 tattoos

Written by Jacinda Woodhead on 11-03-2010

While we’re on politics and art and setting things on fire, Iraqi American artist Wafaa Bilal is trying to grapple with the enormity of the death toll in Iraq. In this video, courtesy of Democracy Now, he discusses his latest project, …and Counting – a 24-hour live tattooing performance. He also talks about his previous projects, what drives him, the death of his brother and life in Iraq.

Art does not have to be confined to a physical space, the gallery or museums, but now we have the power of the internet, when we could enter people’s homes and offices and engage them in the dialogue. Art is not only there to educate. Art is there to agitate, as well.