Memorial Mural of Siri Vivas and Sons Defaced

A mural honoring Siri Bivas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were tragically taken by Hamas, was vandalized during a recent memorial for the victims of the October 7, 2023, attack. This piece, created by artist Alejandro Palombo, is noted for its impactful themes. Palombo is also recognized for previous works, including a poignant installation featuring the late Pope Francis and a drowned Syrian child.

The mural stood outside the Qatari consulate in Milan, Italy. Palombo mentioned that he designed it to safeguard Western values under threat.

He expressed disappointment that such a tribute could be defaced without sparking widespread outrage, suggesting this reflects a troubling societal decline. He added that in recent years, some factions of the political left have inadvertently empowered extremist voices that preach hate rather than peace.

In the act of vandalism, Siri’s image was obscured, altered to include a drawing initially made by another artist, illustrating a boy crying over social media likes.

Palombo labeled the act as a profound desecration rather than a form of protest. He emphasized that this was not a mere artistic dialogue, but an intentional erasure of a painful memory, aiming to replace it with a more trivial, easily manipulated image.

The creative defacement included bizarre additions, like a red eyeball on the boy’s forehead alongside the phrase “No to war.” Palombo stated that such acts should not be seen as a dialogue, but as an attack on memory. He criticized the growing prevalence of Islamic fundamentalism and suggested that anti-Semitism played a role in the mural’s defacement.

Palombo articulated that the act was a clear instance of anti-Semitism masked as activism, asserting that it aims to distort memories and promote cultural radicalization through visual means. He remarked that this form of hatred seeps into public discourse, disguising itself as free speech while silencing other perspectives.

The person responsible for the mural’s defacement hasn’t been identified yet. Palombo’s previous works have also faced vandalism, reflecting a troubling trend in how memorials and public art are treated.

He shared that he has experienced daily anti-Semitic slurs and threats over three years. Yet, he remains undeterred, viewing the risk of vandalism as simply part of the ongoing struggle to preserve the legacy of victims through art.