---
author: Jan Brennenstuhl
categories:
- Street Art
cover:
  alt: Egyptian Mural Makes Concrete Wall Transparent!
  height: 1520
  src: https://www.urbanartcore.com/egyptian-mural-wall-transparent/Sheikh-Rihan-Mural.jpg
  width: 2480
credit: ''
date: '2012-05-03T11:29:38Z'
description: Egyptian graffiti artists created murals vanishing military barriers in Cairo by making them visually transparent. What a great protest!
tags:
- Mural Art
- Concrete Art
- Street Protest
- Arab Street Art
title: Egyptian Mural Makes Concrete Wall Transparent!
url: https://www.urbanartcore.com/egyptian-mural-wall-transparent/
---

# Egyptian Mural Makes Concrete Wall Transparent!

In Cairo, Egyptian graffiti artists made this military street barrier disappear, by painting a fantastic mural that makes the concrete wall visually transparent! Here’s the story about the *Sheikh Rihan* mural:

*Following deadly clashes in Tahrir that erupted last November, and resumed more than once after that, which have left over 50 civilian protesters killed, SCAF, the military ruling junta of Egypt has built walls around Tahrir square and its side streets to prevent protesters from passing around. More than 4 walls have been erected, turning Downtown Cairo to a maze-like area with citizens forced to find longer routes to cross the obstacles.

Egyptian graffiti artists arranged a No Walls protests last Friday (March 9, 2012), where they painted the walls away into stunning murals to commemorate the dead and protest the obstacles built by painting eye-deceiving, virtual continuations to the blocked streets (Trompe-l'œil). Almost every wall around the area was painted on by young artists who joined hands and brushes for over 3 days, turning the area into a lasting memorial.* ([Mosa’ab Elshamy](https://secure.flickr.com/photos/mosaaberising/6977795039/))

In my eyes, breaking down borders is usually a good thing. To make them become transparent is literally a first step  in the right direction!
Via [ektopia.co.uk](http://www.ektopia.co.uk/ektopia/2012/04/12/transparent-concrete-mulral/) and [boingboing.net](http://boingboing.net/2012/03/20/trompe-loeil-graffiti-vanish.html).