Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Milan Removed The Famous Mural With Angelina Jolie With Mastectomy Scars Painted By Alexsandro Polombo
User submission
23
524

Milan Removed The Famous Mural With Angelina Jolie With Mastectomy Scars Painted By Alexsandro Polombo

ADVERTISEMENT

The local police of the municipality of Milan removed the famous mural on the theme of breast cancer “Love Yourself” which portrays actress Angelina Jolie with the signs of a double mastectomy created in Piazza San Babila in Milan by the contemporary pop artist and activist aleXsandro Palombo on October 19th, 2022, on International Day Against Breast Cancer, an important awareness message with which the artist celebrated the strength, beauty, and courage of women.

The removal of the mural has raised a lot of controversy in Italian newspapers and a lot of criticism from people who condemned the act of censorship by the Municipality of Milan.

More info: Instagram

“Love Yourself” Angelina Jolie with mastectomy scars in the mural by aleXsandro Palombo

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

The work had appeared in a city square involved in the construction site for the new underground line and the mural had been created on a panel of a construction site of a building undergoing renovation, therefore it did not create problems of urban decorum, on the contrary, it added value and beauty to the place.

There have been many messages from women dealing with the disease who have written to the artist to share their appreciation of the artwork or to share their stories. In recent months the mural has become a reference point for many street art enthusiasts who are in Milan or who come from other countries of the world, many international media have given coverage to the place where the street artwork was visible, and many foreign TVs have come in the city to make coverage on this work.

ADVERTISEMENT

The street artwork by aleXsandro Palombo is a portrait of the celebrity Angelina Jolie with the signs of the mastectomy that didn’t detract from her beauty; a powerful message of awareness with which the artist wanted to celebrate the strength and courage of all women and to demystify scars.

Palombo’s work is also an acute reflection on the society of image and appearance, which tends to dehumanize everything by forcing us to live in a world made of fiction and perpetually fleeing from reality.

In 2015 the artist created the series entitled “SURVIVOR” which became popular worldwide. In this series he portrayed cartoon heroines as survivors of breast cancer and with the signs of mastectomy; from Disney princesses such as Snow White, Jasmine, Cinderella, Ariel, Aurora, and Tiana, to Marge Simpson, Wonder Woman, Olivia, Wilma Flintstone, Betty Boop and Jessica Rabbit.

Also in that case, the artist’s intent was to raise public awareness of breast cancer prevention, a powerful reflection on the disease, the mastectomy and its effects, the acceptance, the female identity, and the importance of early diagnosis.

“Love Yourself” Angelina Jolie with mastectomy scars in the mural by aleXsandro Palombo

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

“Love Yourself” Angelina Jolie with mastectomy scars in the mural by aleXsandro Palombo

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

“Love Yourself” Angelina Jolie with mastectomy scars in the mural by aleXsandro Palombo

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

“Love Yourself” Angelina Jolie with mastectomy scars in the mural by aleXsandro Palombo

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

“Love Yourself” Angelina Jolie with mastectomy scars in the mural by aleXsandro Palombo

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

“Love Yourself” Angelina Jolie with mastectomy scars in the mural by aleXsandro Palombo

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

ADVERTISEMENT

“Love Yourself” Angelina Jolie with mastectomy scars in the mural by aleXsandro Palombo

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

“Love Yourself” Angelina Jolie with mastectomy scars in the mural by aleXsandro Palombo

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

“Love Yourself” Angelina Jolie with mastectomy scars in the mural by aleXsandro Palombo

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

“Love Yourself” Angelina Jolie with mastectomy scars in the mural by aleXsandro Palombo

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

“Love Yourself” Angelina Jolie with mastectomy scars in the mural by aleXsandro Palombo

Image credits: alexsandropalombo

524views

Share on Facebook
Svetlevan

Svetlevan

Author, Community member

Read more »

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

Read less »
Svetlevan

Svetlevan

Author, Community member

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

Ieva Midveryte

Ieva Midveryte

Moderator, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

Hello Pandas! My name is Ieva, though it's often mistaken for the word 'Leva,' and in Lithuanian, it means 'loser' (insert the pain emoji). While I don't take offense if you accidentally call me a loser, I thought I'd share something interesting with you, which I also do professionally at work.Anywayyy, my favorite part here is introducing you to creative people who deserve just as much recognition as famous celebrities. Besides that, I also enjoy memes and funny, lighthearted posts, and occasionally, I find myself drawn to a bit of internet drama.

Read less »

Ieva Midveryte

Ieva Midveryte

Moderator, BoredPanda staff

Hello Pandas! My name is Ieva, though it's often mistaken for the word 'Leva,' and in Lithuanian, it means 'loser' (insert the pain emoji). While I don't take offense if you accidentally call me a loser, I thought I'd share something interesting with you, which I also do professionally at work.Anywayyy, my favorite part here is introducing you to creative people who deserve just as much recognition as famous celebrities. Besides that, I also enjoy memes and funny, lighthearted posts, and occasionally, I find myself drawn to a bit of internet drama.

What do you think ?
Add photo comments
POST
Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand why people are confused and/or outraged when graffiti gets removed. Was this amazing art? Yes. Is the artist very talented? Yes. Is the message important? Yes. Was it still illegal graffiti? Yes. It was painted, without permission, on a building that did not belong to the artist. That's graffiti. It's defacement and vandalism, regardless of the poignancy of the message or the skill and talent of the artist. It wasn't "censorship" that got this graffiti removed, it was covered up/painted over because it was an illegal defacement of a public building/private building that was not owned by the artist. An artist can't break the laws and vandalize someone else's property just because they want to share an important message or "raise awareness".

Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand why people are confused and/or outraged when graffiti gets removed. Was this amazing art? Yes. Is the artist very talented? Yes. Is the message important? Yes. Was it still illegal graffiti? Yes. It was painted, without permission, on a building that did not belong to the artist. That's graffiti. It's defacement and vandalism, regardless of the poignancy of the message or the skill and talent of the artist. It wasn't "censorship" that got this graffiti removed, it was covered up/painted over because it was an illegal defacement of a public building/private building that was not owned by the artist. An artist can't break the laws and vandalize someone else's property just because they want to share an important message or "raise awareness".

You May Like
Related on Bored Panda
Related on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda