If you have been following the images that have been flooding the internet from the streets of Turkey in the past days, you may have noticed that the movement of #occupygezi (also #direngezi, #resistanbul or #occupyturkey) has been quick to establish a very distinct visual identity, perhaps even more so since the Turkish media is far from providing a decent coverage of events. Most of the circulating photographs document the size of the movement as well as the police violence it encounters. Yet, they also show the aesthetics of the revolt, including the many impromptu messages written on the walls and floors of the city. The fact that street vendors sell spray paint along with gas and Guy Fawkes masks to protesters indicates just how integral graffiti has become to the symbolic protest economy.

as the protesters fight continues, here is a little tribute to the graffiti and street art of #occupygezi and beyond.

graffiti slogans seem to have popped up everywhere (source: http://occupygezipics.tumblr.com/).

Graffiti slogans on the floor of Taksim square, photo via http://occupygezipics.tumblr.com/

(source: http://occupygezipics.tumblr.com/)

Photo via http://occupygezipics.tumblr.com/

a burnt out government truck that reads "you are not innocent anymore" (source: http://earthfirstnews.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/a-few-inspiring-moments-from-turkey-occupy-gezi/)

A burnt out government truck reads “you are not innocent anymore,” photo via http://earthfirstnews.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/a-few-inspiring-moments-from-turkey-occupy-gezi/

"the revolution will not be televised" - critique of the turkish media politics (source: http://boyalikus.tumblr.com/)

“The revolution will not be televised,” a slogan critiques the Turkish media politics, photo via http://boyalikus.tumblr.com/

graffiti is consciously integrated into the geography of #occupygezi as the "library"/graffiti bus suggests (source: http://occupygezipics.tumblr.com/)

Graffiti is consciously integrated into the geography of the movement as the “library”/graffiti bus suggests, photo via http://occupygezipics.tumblr.com/

"occupy antarctica" when public television chose to air a penguin documentary instead of covering the recent events, the animals became an icon of the movement (source: http://statigr.am/manyetikbant)

“Occupy Antarctica,” when public television chose to air a penguin documentary instead of covering the recent events, the animals became a powerful icon of the movement, photo via http://statigr.am/manyetikbant

(source: http://www.passiontakingflight.com/)

Photo via http://www.passiontakingflight.com/

"no more lies" (source: http://statigr.am/nomoreliesart)

“No more lies,” photo via http://statigr.am/nomoreliesart

penguins - clearly erdogans biggest headache (source: http://statigr.am/burakpolat)

Penguins, clearly Erdogans biggest headache, photo via http://statigr.am/burakpolat

"everyday i'm chapuling" - irony is one of the most striking features of the graffiti of #occupygezi. as erdogan referred to the protesters as chapuls (marauders), the term started surfacing in graffiti all over (source: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/to-chapul-or-not-to-chapul-gezi-park-takes-a-swipe-at-power-with-laughter.aspx?pageID=238&nID=48470&NewsCatID=341)

“Everyday i’m çapuling,” irony is one of the most striking features of the graffiti of #occupygezi. After Erdogan referred to the protesters as çapuls (marauders), the term was appropriated by the movement and started surfacing in graffiti all over, photo via http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/to-chapul-or-not-to-chapul-gezi-park-takes-a-swipe-at-power-with-laughter.aspx?pageID=238&nID=48470&NewsCatID=341

erdogan, the natural enemy of the movement, is often referred to in graffiti (source: http://occupygezipics.tumblr.com/)

Ironic references to Recep Tayyip Erdogan are ubiquitous in graffiti slogans, photo via http://occupygezipics.tumblr.com/

from new enemies to old heroes "old timer draws a profile of ataturk" (source: http://i.imgur.com/BE7yn5P.jpg)

From new enemies to old heroes, “old timer draws a profile of Ataturk,” Photo via http://i.imgur.com/BE7yn5P.jpg

the excessive use of tear gas is often criticized (source: http://statigr.am/seporet)

The excessive use of tear gas against the protesters is often criticized, photo via http://statigr.am/seporet

gas masks all around (source: http://www.animalnewyork.com/2013/occupygezi-before-twitter-there-was-graffiti/)

Gas masks all around, photo via http://www.animalnewyork.com/2013/occupygezi-before-twitter-there-was-graffiti/

barricades and even bricks become canvases (source: http://www.animalnewyork.com/2013/occupygezi-before-twitter-there-was-graffiti/)

Barricades and even bricks become canvases, photo via http://www.animalnewyork.com/2013/occupygezi-before-twitter-there-was-graffiti/

“We own this city” reclaiming the walls of Istanbul and beyond, photo via http://www.flickr.com/photos/manyetikbant/8935507407/

in solidarity with #occupygezi (source: https://www.facebook.com/OccupyTurkeyGraffiti)

In solidarity with #occupygezi, https://www.facebook.com/OccupyTurkeyGraffiti