Obey George Orwell
Gavin 14/04/08, 16:00
Penguin Books has commissioned Shepard Fairey of Obey to create two new book covers - for two George Orwell classics: Animal Farm and 1984.
The re-issues will be available from 3 July.
News and views on visual communications from the writers of Creative Review
(12 comments)
Is this screenprinted onto actual newsprint?
Posted by Gavin on 15/04/08, 11:12 am
We’re not entirely sure yet – but have contacted Penguin to find out a bit more about it…
Posted by creativereview on 15/04/08, 3:45 pm
well if you seen the covers they had before, they clearly needed a redesign. these are better.
Posted by akrok on 15/04/08, 10:49 pm
the original pieces were almost certainly screenprinted onto a collage of various things (newsprint, wallpaper, LP covers, patterns that they design/print in-house, etc). it would be a little surprising if these are used for the actual book covers as opposed to just the main image, since the pieces with collage are usually sold in gallery shows, but maybe penguin liked that look better.
Posted by jake on 16/04/08, 7:02 pm
I wish he hadn’t stuck his logo on the cover - it’s distracting and a little too self serving for my taste.
Posted by corey on 17/04/08, 4:44 am
my feelings exactly ‘Corey’.
it’s a real shame he had to smack that on in there….
Posted by Lee on 17/04/08, 11:26 am
Very cool, but ditto Corey and Lee.
Posted by Ed Wright on 17/04/08, 12:02 pm
the shepard fairey design template™
blahhh, how much of this do we have to put up with?
Posted by peter nyc on 20/04/08, 3:49 am
I dont mind the Obey logo at all.
I love the subtle texturing in them.
When ever i see his work it makes me think of Charles Burns.
Great covers
Posted by Chris Keegan on 21/04/08, 2:06 pm
Personally I do not find the Obey “stamp” distracting, as corey’s CR comment suggested. It’s subtle enough and fits with the overall design.
However, I am surprised that Penguin Books allowed for the artist to “sign off” the artwork directly on the cover, which is unusual and, I suppose, self-serving as corey pointed out.
Posted by Reality Check on 25/04/08, 7:13 pm
Shepard is a total sellout to be honest…using shepard is double think, Orwell would role in his grave.
Posted by POny on 26/04/08, 11:03 pm
I’m guessing that someone at Penguin let it through without knowing its signifance, to Nathan Barley 
Posted by mimeArtist on 27/04/08, 10:13 am
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