Protect the Protest: Thawing the Chilling Effect

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Protect the Protest: Thawing the Chilling Effect

Shado is a community-powered platform rooted in lived experience, challenging dominant narratives in the arts and media while reimagining what inclusive storytelling can be.

In this project, Shado Magazine and Amnesty International issue a call to artists across Europe to respond to the theme: “Protect the Protest.” Artists use illustration to push back against the growing narrative that frames protest as criminal, instead reclaiming it as a powerful and positive force for advancing human rights and social justice.

This comes at a time of rising concern over the erosion of protest rights across Europe, as governments impose harsher laws and increased restrictions. In response, Shado turns to the creative community to share bold, imaginative visuals affirming protest as a democratic right. BUILDHOLLYWOOD, in collaboration with Shado Magazine and Amnesty International, brings the five winning works to the streets of London, making their messages visible to the public and reminding us that protest is not only essential, but a necessary act of resistance.

Learn More about the Artists involved, and the story behind their artwork in the bios below.

09.06.25

Words by BUILDHOLLYWOOD

Paul Ward
Rafaelle Fillastre
Lea Ebeling
Driss Chaoui
Daryl Rainbow

Paul Ward

This artwork is rooted in the artist’s unwavering belief in collective resistance and the transformative power of protest. Shaped by lived experiences and a lifelong commitment to social justice, the piece reflects a refusal to be silenced, whether by childhood bullies or oppressive systems of power. For the artist, injustice is not just a source of anger but a driving force for creativity. They see art as a vital tool for speaking out, amplifying marginalised voices, and challenging dominant structures. While the work carries weighty themes, humour plays a crucial role, used deliberately to disarm, engage, and subvert those who seek to suppress dissent.

“Bullies are crap. It could be the one that pushed you around the playground when you were little, or that snake in a suit trying to stifle your voice with a heavy boot on your neck. It doesn’t matter, as the solution to both is the same, we work together. That’s why protest and our right to do it collectively is so important.
The propane to my flame of motivation is injustice. I believe fully that artists must pile their soap boxes high and shout to anyone who will listen. That doesn’t stop me adding a bit of humour to the mix, what else shrivels the manhood of those abusing power more than laughter?”

Lyon, France

@paulwardart

Rafaelle Fillastre

Rafaelle Fillastre’s current artwork recentres the narrative around protest, shifting focus from sensationalised depictions to the deeper, human reasons people take to the streets. Through evocative imagery, Fillastre explores the fundamental drive not just to survive, but to live fully, grow, and break free from the constraints imposed by society. Rejecting media portrayals of protest as inherently violent or chaotic, the piece reframes it as a generative act, one of creation, learning, and collective care. The work celebrates protest as a deeply communal act, rooted in solidarity and fuelled by the shared pursuit of justice and liberation.

“Through this image, I wanted to recentre on why we protest. The importance of it. The fact is that what people are manifesting is simple: to live, not to survive, to grow and to thrive. As well as to show the collective effort to start important conversations and to liberate from restraining norms, in short, the beauty of these actions.”

Paris, France

@rafaellefillastre

Lea Ebeling

Lea Ebeling, piece is part of a broader ethnographic project exploring decolonial and anti-capitalist future imaginaries. The work emerges from conversations with two activists from the Sudan Uprising, who shared their lived experiences and hopes for a just, post-war Sudan. Drawing on the legacy of the Kandake—ancient Nubian warrior queens who embodied justice, equality, and resistance to Western and patriarchal systems—Ebeling fuses historical and contemporary symbols of defiance. At the heart of the piece stands a figure inspired by Alaa Salah, the young woman who became a symbol of the 2019 revolution, surrounded by raised hands and the resonant chant: “No deal with the military, no negotiation, no compromise.”

“Kandake – Dreams From the Sudanese Revolution’ is part of an ethnographic research project on decolonial and anti-capitalist future imaginaries and their relevance in social movements to create and maintain hope.”

Berlin, Germany

@leaebeling_art

Driss Chaoui

For Driss, attending his first protest was a revelation. He was struck by the unexpected sense of joy that permeated the crowd. People marched, laughed, debated, and sang, expressing their resistance not only through anger but also through solidarity and celebration. Despite the inevitable escalation of tension by the police, the protest remained a powerful collective experience, blending defiance with unity and hope, inspiring his Protest the Protest artwork.

“The first time I joined a protest, I was surprised by this amazing cocktail of emotions. Joy, anger, solidarity, thoughtful debates, and music, all amidst some occasional chaos, this is what a protest is to me.”

Toulouse, France

@kalakal_klk

Daryl Rainbow

Daryl Rainbow’s illustration captures a vibrant and diverse group of protesters united in a moment of shared joy and community. Despite the looming presence of increased police authority and modern surveillance technologies, the piece reclaims protest as a space of resilience and solidarity. Rather than focusing on fear or conflict, Rainbow highlights the powerful, affirming energy that emerges when communities unite. Through bold, expressive imagery, the artwork celebrates protest as both resistance and celebration, a testament to the enduring strength found in togetherness.

“With this illustration, I wanted to show a diverse mix of protesters who are speaking up for different causes. Amidst the ever-increasing police and surveillance restrictions, these protesters can still create a positive sense of community to fight for their cause.”

London, United Kingdom

@daryl_rainbow

Protect the Protest: Thawing the Chilling Effect street exhibition serves as a powerful reminder that, across Europe, our freedom of speech is under unprecedented threat. At the same time, it authentically amplifies the voices and stories of the featured artists. Through Shado Magazine’s project, the exhibition celebrates a diverse range of creative perspectives, boldly challenging the negative narrative around protests and reclaiming it as a vital act of resistance.

Build Hollywood

Build Hollywood

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