Art beyond the canvas

Whether confronting political decisions, reflecting on conflict or rebuilding communities, art can be a powerful form of expression.

1. French artist Pierre Gaignard posing beside his work ‘Dragon GHz’ during a preview of the ‘Futur’ exhibition at a former World War II officers’ mess in Krampnitz, near Potsdam, Germany. The exhibition offers a space for commentary, observation and aesthetic reflection on the future in a former Nazi-era barracks later occupied by Soviet forces. — AFP

2. Banksy’s ‘Keep Ou T’, estimated at £1.2mil to £1.8mil, is displayed during a preview of Phillips’ Frieze Week Modern & Contemporary Art Auctions in London, United Kingdom. The work appears to reflect the artist’s disdain for Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. — AP

3. A woman walking past sculptures by artist Ai Weiwei, titled ‘Mushrooms’, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney. The work reflects on conflict, resilience and the fragility of peace in the 21st century. — Reuters

4. Guatemalan artist Luis Fernando Izquierdo retouches his mural of the Virgin Mary and child Jesus on a street in Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala. The mural is part of ‘A New Air for Santa Maria de Jesus’, an initiative to restore deteriorating spaces and strengthen the community’s identity through art. — AFP