Lapiz: It Is All About Being Part Of It

Lapiz, the Hamburg-based street artist whose practice involves handmade stencils to convey his message to the public, and which he places in many cities around Germany and all over the world has finally found a way to convey something that has been in his mind since China hosted the Winter Olympics Games in 2022. His preoccupation with being a part of a team where in collaboration with other teams something big and important is created has brought him to expand on a popular sports slogan in Germany: Dabei sein ist alles or it is more important to take part of be part of something big than anything else.

For his participation in this year’s edition of Ibug 2023 in Leipzig, Germany he decided to use the slogan as the genesis for his contribution by way of illustrating with his stencils the meaning of the slogan.

“Coincidentally, Leipzig is very fitting, as the world’s most important chip company Taiwan’s TSMC is building a factory in Dresden (about an hour’s drive from Leipzig), heavily supported by the state of Germany (contributing up to 5 billion Euros). This is also interesting as Germany, just like the majority of the world, still does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state but plays into China’s interpretation of it being a separatist province.” Lapiz

“At the motives center stands China’s supreme leader Xi Jinping holding shackles, attached to his left are Tibet, the Uighurs, and most recently Hong Kong. To his right, a shackle lies on the floor, waiting to catch the next “member”: Taiwan, depicted in the person of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.”

Lapiz painted a second piece for the festival titled “Liberté” (Freedom). For him, freedom is one of the most pressing social and humanitarian issues currently bubbling in people’s minds. He previously painted the female figure holding a brush with the word Liberté in Paris in 2017 in response to the attack on the Bataclan Theater, and in support of the victims and the survivors.

“More than a year ago, Russia invaded Ukraine, which since then has fought for its freedom. For months, the people of Iran have been fighting in a new revolution for the rights and lives of Iranian women. Everywhere in the world, there is still a lot to do to get equal rights for all genders.” Lapiz