Artists against Fascism: Why Oligarchs Fear Creativity and Free Expression

Why protecting creativity is more important than ever

Creativity has long been a catalyst for change, challenging power structures and inspiring new ways of thinking. But in today’s world, why does it feel like creativity is under siege? This article explores how oligarchies—whether political, economic, or cultural—view the liberal arts and artistic expression as a threat to their control. From historical censorship to modern-day budget cuts in arts education, we examine why those in power often suppress creativity and critical thinking. Is it because art fuels independent thought? Because it questions authority? Or because it provides a voice to the marginalized? By analyzing past and present examples, we uncover the true reasons why the liberal arts—and art itself—are seen as dangerous by the ruling elite, and why protecting creativity is more important than ever.

The Role of Art in a World at a Crossroads: Freedom, Democracy, and the Artist’s Responsibility

The world has been turned upside down. What once seemed like a predictable path of progress, a steady march towards greater freedoms, rights, and democracy, has been disrupted by greed, aggression, and the blatant undermining of human dignity. Today, in an era where authoritarian tendencies are no longer lurking in the shadows but proudly marching across global politics, artists have a duty—a moral obligation—to use their voices. Art has always been a mirror to society, reflecting its values, its struggles, and its aspirations. Now, more than ever, that mirror must show the stark reality of what is at stake: freedom of speech, self-determination, and the very fabric of human rights.

The New Frontlines of Freedom

Historian Heather Cox Richardson has extensively documented the slow erosion of democratic values, tracing the disturbing alignment between authoritarian leaders, corporate influence, and political power. Since the last U.S. president openly aligned his agenda with Russian aggression against Europe, the world has watched as a new wave of territorial ambitions has emerged. It started with the brazenness of Ukraine’s invasion, and now the rhetoric has spread, with chilling territorial claims being directed towards independent nations like Canada, Mexico, and even Greenland. These are not just words. They are reflections of a dangerous shift—a shift where power no longer hides its intentions, and democratic values are at risk of being trampled under the boots of expansionist ideologies.

We are witnessing a moment in history where greed is prioritized over justice, where conquest overshadows cooperation, and where the institutions meant to protect freedom are being systematically dismantled. In such a landscape, where does culture stand? Where does art fit into a world that seems to be racing towards destruction?

The Artist’s Duty: Speaking Truth to Power

Artists have always played a crucial role in times of political upheaval. From Francisco Goya’s brutal depictions of war crimes in The Disasters of War to Picasso’s Guernica, which stands as a testament to the horrors of fascism, art has been the voice of the silenced, the conscience of the people, and the catalyst for change. When governments suppress freedom, when corporate greed dictates national policy, when leaders align themselves with authoritarianism, it is artists who must refuse to be complicit.

This is not the time for passive observation. It is time for artists to be vocal, to create works that challenge the dystopian trajectory of our world. In a society where censorship is creeping back in, where journalists and activists are being targeted, and where multinational corporations dictate policy with no democratic accountability, the arts must stand as the last bastion of free expression.

Wearing Protest: Art in Everyday Resistance

Art is not only about painting murals or sculpting monuments. It is in the everyday acts of defiance, the subtle yet powerful statements made through fashion, design, and digital media. This is where my own contribution comes in. Through my line of t-shirts, I aim to address the growing fusion of corporate greed and authoritarian politics.

One of my designs, Elon Mask, encapsulates a horrifying realization—one that many have come to terms with in recent years. What was once a visionary, eccentric figure of progress in the tech world has transformed into something else entirely: a champion of the old world order, an oligarch driven by self-interest, resource accumulation, and an unsettling alliance with anti-democratic forces. The promise of technological utopia has given way to a dystopian reality where billionaires, rather than elected officials, hold the reins of governance, dictating the future of entire nations without consent.

This design is more than just a piece of clothing. It is a statement, a warning, and a call to awareness. It asks the wearer—and the world—to question where power truly lies in the 21st century. If we continue down this path, where corporations govern without accountability, what remains of democracy? What remains of culture, of art, of creativity, when all decisions are made in boardrooms rather than in public discourse?

Art vs. Apathy: The Cost of Silence

History has shown that silence is complicity. The gradual erosion of freedoms, the normalization of aggression, and the steady consolidation of power in the hands of the few happen when people—especially creatives—fail to resist. A world ruled by unchecked greed and military expansionism leaves no room for culture, humanity, or self-expression. It leads only to destruction.

The question is no longer whether art should be political. It always has been. The question is: will artists today rise to the occasion? Will they wield their brushes, their cameras, their pens, their screens, and their voices in the fight for freedom? Or will they remain passive, hoping that someone else will speak up while the walls of democracy crumble around them?

In times of crisis, artists must not only create; they must agitate, they must provoke, and they must inspire action. Because if we fail to do so, we may wake up one day to find that the world we once knew—the world where freedom, respect, and dignity were fundamental—has ceased to exist.

The Future: A Choice Between Art and Oblivion

The world is at a crossroads. One path leads towards authoritarian control, corporate dominion, and unrestrained aggression. The other leads towards resistance, creativity, and the assertion of human dignity. Every artist, every creator, every individual who values freedom has a choice to make.

Art is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It is the heartbeat of democracy, the soul of a free society. Without it, we are lost. As artists, we must not only witness history—we must shape it. And the time to act is now.

Peter Von Hauerland

You can find my space- and science-inspired sculptural art objects throughout this website in the following sections:

Galactic Fossils

Interactive Cosmos Sculptures

Art Decor Inspired by Space Objects made of sheet steel

Tiny Space Creatures