10 Comments

Have you guys seen read this...

http://www.art-for-a-change.com/Obey/index.htm

...it doesn't really matter what Shep thinks - or does anymore.

Does it?

He built his 'reputation' rippin other graphic artist work and rippin other personalities images too, such Andre's. He has become the butt of all jokes in graphic and fine art.

Shep is a Plagiarist.
Shep is boring.


n.
neil
2008-10-28 22:21:57

Did he say that all of his material is highly original? Don't think so, power is in using borrowed images and turning them into powerful 'media' for a totally different cause. With all due respect but it is not interesting to hear what you think of it, it is what it is.
vos
2008-10-29 00:18:52

I agree with Neil, and the author of that article. It's about time we all open our eyes to who Shepard Fairey really is.

It's difficult to admit you've been duped, believe me, I was a fan.

Anyhow, moving on.


/Martin
Martin Delin
2008-10-29 10:27:23

I agree with vos - there is a long history of reusing and adapting social or political images in order to parody, satirise or challenge established points of view, and none have had more impact than that of the rhetoric of the poster.

However, having said that, the examples highlighted in the article Neil linked to are remarkable - perhaps a bit too the same for my liking, and for that reason some of Sheps' work (and that of others i've seen too) has lost a little of my respect.
peteherb
2008-10-29 10:32:14

Whilst I'm not a fan of the work, to deride him a plagiarist is pretty ridiculous. Thats kind of the point - he takes borrowed imagery and presents it in a different context. Not original or presented in a particularly challenging way but as vos says "it is what it is". To be outraged by his appropriation of existing imagery is pretty silly.
AAA
2008-10-29 13:17:59

I think like anything in life, it is subjective... you either like it or you don't. It is plagiarism by its very nature, but at least it is not trying to be anything else.
Creative Agency Manchester
2008-10-30 14:48:14

damn ive got dozens of his prints, i'm going to bin them all
DRM
2008-10-30 15:22:00

I took it one step further and made a photo booth plugin (works on mac OSX leopard) that allows people to make their own spoofs with themselves in it.

http://www.dubster.com/obamafy
Dubi Kaufmann
2008-10-30 18:00:30

It's all about the wheel of creativity that just keeps on spinning around. It's all been done before - did Roy Lichtenstein get criticised for his comic book inspierd art or Warhol for his Brillo and Campbells soup prints?
I challenge any designer to hand on heart say that they have never at some time in their career 'borrowed'from another source when developing ideas.
Fairey's execution and style should be respected.
Will we critcise future artists that plagiarise Fairey
jahpritch
2008-10-30 23:06:36

I think that shepard borrows work from other artists. But which artist, digital, music, etc doesn't borrow from past artists?

http://www.supertouchart.com/2009/02/02/editorial-the-medium-is-the-message-shepard-fairey-and-the-art-of-appropriation/
John Hamm
2009-02-02 19:09:14

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