Fahmi Reza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fahmi Reza
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|---|---|
| فهمى رضا | |
| Born |
Mohd Fahmi Reza bin Mohd Zarin
7 June 1977 |
| Alma mater | Vanderbilt University |
| Occupation | Satirist, graphic designer, street artist, filmmaker |
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Notable work
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Clown portrayal of Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak Portraying Malaysian politicians in a satirical and comedic way |
Mohd Fahmi Reza bin Mohd Zarin (born 7 June 1977) is a Malaysian artist. He is a graphic designer, street artist, and filmmaker. Fahmi Reza is well-known for his political art. He often uses satire to comment on important issues. One of his most famous works showed Malaysia's former Prime Minister, Najib Razak, as a clown. This artwork became very popular.
Contents
Fahmi Reza's Art and Challenges
Fahmi Reza uses his art to share his views. Sometimes, his art has led to legal challenges. He believes that art can make people think.
The Clown Artwork
In 2016, Fahmi Reza created a picture of Prime Minister Najib Razak as a clown. He shared this image online. This artwork was a way to protest. It was made during a time when there were many questions. People were asking about money from a state fund.
Fahmi posted the picture on Twitter. He added a message about free speech. He said that in a country with problems, everyone might be seen as an "instigator." Police had warned him that his social media was being watched.
Because of this artwork, Fahmi faced legal issues. He was accused of breaking multimedia laws. These laws stop online content that might "annoy" or "harass" others. He pleaded not guilty. Later, a court in Ipoh ruled against him. He was given a fine and a short jail sentence. However, he appealed this decision. In the end, a higher court removed the jail sentence.
We Are All Instigators T-shirts
Fahmi Reza also created T-shirts. These T-shirts had the phrase #KitaSemuaPenghasut on them. This means "We are all instigators." In June 2016, he was selling these T-shirts. He was with other activists at a shopping center. Police held him and the others for questioning. This was because of the T-shirts. Many human rights groups spoke out against these arrests.
Controversial Spotify Playlist
In 2021, Fahmi Reza faced another issue. He created a Spotify playlist. The playlist had a picture of the Queen of Malaysia. Its title asked "This is Jealous?". This was seen as a comment on something the Queen had said. She had reportedly used the phrase "Dengki ke?" (meaning "Jealous?") on her Instagram. This was in response to questions about a vaccine.
Fahmi was held by police for this playlist. He was investigated under laws about speech and multimedia. He was released on bail the next day. The playlist is still available online. It has many songs about jealousy.
Fahmi Reza's Activism
Fahmi Reza believes his art is powerful. He says his clown image showed how many people felt. He promised to keep making satirical art. He feels his work helps young people. They often share his art online.
Other artists have joined him. They create their own clown images of politicians. They use the hashtag #KitaSemuaPenghasut. Fahmi says his art is not just about one person. It comments on all parts of Malaysian politics. He wants to highlight issues like money in politics. He also wants to show problems with democracy.
As a filmmaker, Fahmi has won awards. His documentary, Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka, won an award in 2007. This film tells the story of Malaysia's fight for independence. It shows the role of different groups.
Fahmi has often been stopped from speaking to students. This was at the University of Malaya. He wanted to talk about student activism. His work has also gained attention from international media. This includes The New York Times and VICE magazine.
See also
- Barack Obama "Joker" poster - political art with a similar motif
- 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal
