How stories in pictures preach peace

The word ‘violence’ has become almost synonymous with the 2015 general elections. Literatures, particularly plays and novels, have revolved around the subject of political violence over time. But at present what is taking place on Instagram (a very popular social media platform for photographers and visual artists) and shortsharpshot (a hot spot for art, which […]

The word ‘violence’ has become almost synonymous with the 2015 general elections. Literatures, particularly plays and novels, have revolved around the subject of political violence over time. But at present what is taking place on Instagram (a very popular social media platform for photographers and visual artists) and shortsharpshot (a hot spot for art, which includes stories and photographs) is perhaps the first of its kind.
A boy runs in a lush green background – that gives the impression of grass – with white at its centre. He is obviously excited about something and holds an object in his right hand. Above, the words: “Say no to election violence” and below: “The world we destroy belongs to them,” tell the whole story. It is one of the photographs displayed on shortsharpshot. Another, similar to the latter, with a green-white-green coloured river reveals a drowning hand with a placard reading: “Even if it kills you, say no to violence, we are not animals.” Yet another, with the words: “Harbour Peace, Sweep Away Violence,” has President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari shaking hands with the map of Nigeria above them in national colours, while each person holds the other’s party symbol of the broom and umbrella.
Many artistic pictures are displayed, the information coming with them, intimating they are for an art contest tagged – ‘The Peace Shot contest,’ where every picture has a number of likes as a form of voting.    
On the shortsharpshot website, information on the contest reveals it is a bid to go “beyond words and rhetoric to motivate and motivate artists, designers and photographers to produce work that could actually cause a positive change in people’s attitude when it comes to selecting their leaders. Also, to spark engaging conversations about peace that will continue into the election period.” Interestingly, the contest has been on for weeks and is scheduled to end 1 April with the winner walking away with N100, 000.      
In recent times, Instagram has contributed tremendously to social and political campaigns. The recent protests in Hong Kong are an example, where pictures of thousands of people gathered outside, went viral. Thus, it serves as an effective tool due to its popular and effective social media platform to encourage better participation in the contest and greater impact.
Artists, designers and photographers are known the world over for a unique ability to tell a compelling story with pictures. Violence has been a recurrent characteristic of Nigerian elections in recent times. Election time has come by yet again and the question is, how can artists, photographers and designers use their art to counter a perpetual narrative of violence? Perhaps, this is it.