Categories
Art

Shepard Fairey’s “Duality of Humanity” Expo in San Francisco

If you live in San Francisco, you can’t afford to miss this FREE event.

Opening Reception: September 13th, 7-10pm
Exhibition Dates: September 13th – October 4th

White Walls Gallery
835 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
www.whitewallssf.com

Over 100 pieces will go on display at White Walls in a timely new show titled “The Duality of Humanity.” The show marks an evolution for the artist, whose unique form of reverse propaganda emerged from the spirit of the punk movement. With this show, Shepard touches upon, but also goes beyond the “calls to action” against mindless consumerism and war evidenced in previous shows like Nineteeneightyfouria, E Pluribus Venom and Imperfect Union.

Shepard says:

The difference between this show and the previous ones is that now the optimism of a potential Obama presidency is in the mix.

His recent work reflects his own personal shift towards a new optimism, a direct result of his involvement with, and inspiration by, the powerful political ideals of Barack Obama.

The title of the show, “The Duality of Humanity,” is inspired by the peace-sign wearing US soldier in Vietnam, “Joker,” in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket. Fairey sees a strong parallel between the Vietnam war and the Iraq war.

Fairey says that:

this show addresses the human struggle between good and bad, hope and fear. One of the show’s central pieces is a child with a gun in his hand and a flower in his hat. The theme of soldiers and weapons bearing peace signs, or peace signs comprised of military effects, runs through many pieces in the show. Environmental themes also appear in some pieces, illustrating the tenuous balance between our dangerously uncontrolled consumption of non-renewable resources, and our well intentioned eco-concerns. Suffering and hope are seamlessly merged in a visual mash-up that defies expectations and easy answers.

“The Duality of Humanity” includes larger mixed media pieces on canvas and paper that have been covered with carefully collaged ephemera, self-printed patterns and found clippings from printed media. The backgrounds provide a seductive painterly texture and visual subtext, often allowing apropos words and images to bleed through the iconic images printed and painted over them. The multiple layers create a sense of depth, but also bring in temporal elements through preserved newsclippings, historic images and vintage printing effects. It is the images in the foreground, however, that give the work its power. They are crisp and provocative, communicating in a way that is direct and clear.

Source: Obey

Categories
Art

Shepard Fairey illustrates photographs of Al Rockoff

Shepard was recently presented with the opportunity to illustrate some incredible photographs taken by photojournalist Al Rockoff. The images that were drawn to Shepard fit exactly with the current times and express same complex emotions many people felt during the Vietnam War and feel today with war in Iraq.

Al Rockoff’s photos reveal the brutality, but also the conflicted humanity seen in war. The risks Rockoff took to capture his images were often as great as the risks of the subjects he wished to document. I’m honored to be able to work with Al Rockoff. – Shepard fairey

Read

Categories
Art

Obey’s mural in Venice

Here is the latest piece of art by Shepard Fairey and his buddies. It was done in front of a bar called The Garter in Venice Beach on Lincoln Blvd.

Categories
News Random

Obey Sample Sales

Obey is having a sample sale this week:

Date:
Friday, May 30th (9am – 7pm)
Saturday, May31st (8am – 3pm)

Location:
3500 W. Carriage Dr.
Santa Ana CA, 92704

Last time we went, we had to wait 2.5 hours in line! I still can’t believe I waited that long without ending up on the news for murder…

This year my friend Sean, ex Obey employee, is getting us in day earlier. Thanks, buddy!