One man's art . . .

Yesterday I saw an exhibit of Shephard Fairey's work.  He is now most well known for his cartoonish picture of Obama that was a big part of the Hope campaign.

Some of you may remember the stickers of Andre the Giant sticking all over the country, graffiti and really cool street art.  When I was in grad school I received a bunch of these stickers as a gift from my roommate's  boyfriend (now husband).  At the time I didn't realize the extent of the work, just a vague understanding of the concept.  Art mocking propaganda. 

I was skeptical (no, me, really?) about this work seen as art.  But I was pleasantly surprised.  The whole concept of propaganda, using images to create compliance and belief in something you may not otherwise believe in, is a little scary.  But it's out there ever

y day, everywhere.  On TV, the side of buses, newspapers, text messaging ads, plastered to the side of a building.  It's like a CD that you don't like on first listen but you like it because you hear it over and over again.  Do you really like it, do you accommodate to it's presence.  Do you accommodate and then absorb and start to believe in it.

As  a concept and with every piece displayed together, it is very artistic.  Some pieces alone would not stand out, in my opinion.

The ICA in  Boston is lovely too.  Lovely.   

Both are recommended.