Maupal
Diritto (Right / Straight)
Created especially for the Human Rights Today exhibition, Diritto is a powerful visual metaphor for equality, resilience, and the universal right to participate fully in society.
The artwork depicts a group of athletes poised at the starting line. Each carries a different burden or begins the race from a different circumstance: one athlete uses a wheelchair, another holds a life-saving ring, while others drag heavy iron balls that symbolise the obstacles imposed by conflict, disability, displacement, poverty, or discrimination. Yet, as the race begins, each athlete breaks free from these weights and runs forward.
The Italian title, Diritto, carries a double meaning: it means both "right" (as in a human right) and "straight ahead." Through this visual play on words, Maupal reminds us that although people begin life under vastly different conditions, everyone should have the same opportunity to move forward with dignity, freedom, and hope.
Mauro Pallotta, known internationally as Maupal, is an Italian contemporary and street artist born in Rome in 1972. He studied at the Art School A. Caravillani and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. His work combines satire, humour, and social commentary to explore political, humanitarian, and environmental issues.
Maupal gained worldwide recognition in 2014 with Super Pope, a mural portraying Pope Francis as a superhero, which became an international symbol of hope and compassion. In 2016, he was recognised by Artnet as one of the world's thirty most influential street artists. Throughout his career, he has used art to promote dialogue on equality, solidarity, migration, environmental sustainability, and human rights.
A long-standing collaborator of We Restart Charity, Maupal has supported numerous social impact initiatives through his art. In 2025, he created Diritto specifically for the Human Rights Today exhibition. The previous year, he also produced a series of illustrations inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, addressing themes including climate action, gender equality, sustainable communities, responsible consumption, decent work, and life on land.
The artwork celebrates resilience while challenging us to remove the barriers that prevent people from fully participating in society. It reminds us that human rights are about creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to move forward.
Learn more:
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
The Global Goals Project
Life on Land
Responsible Consumption and Production
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Dignity Labour and Economic Growth
Action for Climate Change
Gender Equality
We Restart support the Sustainable Development Global Goals
We Restart Charity is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through arts, culture, and community participation. We believe that creativity is a powerful catalyst for social change, helping to promote equality, environmental responsibility, education, inclusion, and human dignity. In 2024, artist Maupal collaborated with We Restart to create a series of illustrations inspired by six Sustainable Development Goals, reinforcing our shared commitment to raising awareness through art. Across all our programmes—from the Human Rights Festival and #SavingButterflies to our support for displaced artists—we use creativity to encourage dialogue, inspire action, and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.
