Author among the most influential of the contemporary scene, Shepard Fairey, better known by the pseudonym of OBEY, gained its fame thanks to the stylized four-color image of Barack Obama superimposed on the terms Hope (hope), Change (change), Progress (progress), which became the symbol of the electoral campaign of the future president of the United States of America in 2008.
With this portrait, defined by the art critic of the New Yorker, Peter Schjeldahl, "the most effective American political illustration since Uncle Sam", Obey has given birth to a contemporary pop icon as Andy Warhol had done with Marilyn Monroe , Mao, Campbell's soup and more.
The exposure, curated by Massimo Sgroi, organized by Password Onlus, in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Municipality of Naples, with the sponsorship of the Consulate of the United States of America in Naples, with the support of Jaguar Land Rover and the collaboration by Tudor, Giglio Arte and the Spirale d'Idee Association, presents for the first time in an Italian museum space 90 works, which tell the stylistic evolution of Shepard Fairey, such as the series created for the city of Venice, Obama Manifest Hope, the monumental canvas, never before exhibited, which is flanked by works from private collections.
"Naples - says Gaetano Daniele, Councilor for Culture and Tourism of the Municipality of Naples - is confirmed, once again with this exhibition, as well as a privileged place of artistic production, also as a great attractor at an international level and I am particularly proud that the Palazzo della Arti of our city, a point of reference for contemporary art in the city, has rediscovered a leading role in recent months”.
The review allows the visitor to discuss ever-present social issues, such as war, repression, propaganda, racism, environmental protection and the relationship with music and icons of our century. The aim for Obey is to stimulate the viewer to arrive at his own interpretation and reflect on the meaning of what he sees: “It's a constant dialogue with the observer; what I do is send a stimulus and respond with a new stimulus based on the reaction received”.
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Biographical notes
Frank Shepard Fairey, known under the pseudonym of Obey was born in Charleston, South Carolina on February 15, 1970.
The son of a doctor and a real estate agent, Fairey grew up in South Carolina, studied art and in 1988 graduated from the Academy of Art. In 1989 he conceived and implemented the initiative Andre the Giant Has a Posse; scatter the city walls with stickers (stickers) that reproduce the face of the famous wrestler André the Giant; the same ones were then replicated by other artists in other cities. As Fairey himself was able to explain, there was no particular significance in the choice of subject; the sense of the campaign was to produce a media phenomenon and to make citizens reflect on their relationship with the urban environment.
At that moment, Obey's poetics took shape, focusing on the crucial themes of propaganda and social control. An attention to the communicative aspect of the art that the artist will put to good use in the guerrilla marketing and, during the conflict between the United States and Iraq, in the political field, thanks to the creation of a series of pacifist manifestos.
But the initiative that gave Fairey international visibility was the manifesto Hope which reproduces the stylized face of Barack Obama, who became the icon of the electoral campaign which then brought the Democratic representative to the White House. The manifesto appeared, again during the 2008 election campaign, with two other writings: "Change" and "Vote". Obama's electoral committee never formalized the collaboration with Fairey, probably because the posters were posted illegally, as in the tradition of street art, but the president, once elected, sent a letter to the artist, later made public, in which he thanked Fairey for the creative contribution to his campaign, the letter closes with these words: "I am privileged to be part of your work of art and I am proud to have your support”.
Onlus password is a cultural association based in Milan, born in 2003 with the aim of planning, realizing and promoting cultural events and exhibitions with high artistic value, paying particular attention to the contemporary period. The roots of the association are characterized by the care and passion through which the public approaches the languages of contemporary art, not always easy to access and immediately read.
According to the president Luca Giglio, "the narration of the artist's contents and his works in museums and public spaces become the Password to approach and understand the world of art and the relationship between the artist and the artistic and architectural heritage of a city”.
SHEPARD FAIREY #OBEY
Naples, Pan | Palace of the Arts Naples - Palazzo Roccella (via dei Mille 60)
