Ganzeer
1982– · Egyptian graphic designer, visual artist and activist
Ganzeer is the pseudonym of Mohammed Fahmy, born in 1982 in Giza, Egypt. A graphic designer, caricaturist and visual artist, he became known for his activist art during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, where his work addressed civic responsibility and social justice.
His name, Ǧanzīr, means 'chain' in Arabic. He took it from a bicycle chain, reflecting the idea that artists are not the ones pedalling but can connect ideas so that change moves forward. Before the revolution his work was recognised mainly within art and design. During the uprising of early 2011 he made posters, graffiti, murals and stickers across Cairo, aiming to counter the state media's propaganda.
In May 2011 he was detained for a day by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces over an illustration titled 'Mask of Freedom'. Public support led to his release without charges. He has exhibited in many countries and held residencies in Finland, Poland and Switzerland. He rejects the labels of graffiti artist or street artist. He regularly contributes to the online magazine Rolling Bulb, appears in Marco Wilms's documentary Art War, and published the graphic novel The Solar Grid (2019).