Saturday, September 09, 2006
Shepard Fairey's Solo Show at Merry Karnowsky's in Los Angeles
The title “Rise Above” is inspired by the lyrics of one of Shepard Fairey's favorite punk bands, Black Flag. “Jealous cowards try to control... rise above, we're gonna rise above”. Beyond just a Black Flag reference, "Rise Above" is both an attempt to reveal and skewer abuses of power, governmental hypocrisy, and loss of civil liberties, as well as a call for people to rise above these problems. Fairey's work encourages people who don't like the system to change it or work outside of it. Peace advocacy and the questioning of power and authority are dominant themes. Shepard Fairey's new body of work contains politically-charged screenprint, stencil, and collage mixed media pieces which use metaphor, humor, and seductive decorative elements to deliver provocative but beautiful results. These works blur the perceived barriers between propaganda and escapist decoration, political responsibility and humor with the intent of stimulating brain and heart/viscerally and intellectually.
Merry Karnowsky Gallery
Solo Exhibition
September 16th through October 14th, 2006
Opening Reception: September 16th, 8-11pm
170 South La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
www.mkgallery.com ¶ 3:46 PM
The title “Rise Above” is inspired by the lyrics of one of Shepard Fairey's favorite punk bands, Black Flag. “Jealous cowards try to control... rise above, we're gonna rise above”. Beyond just a Black Flag reference, "Rise Above" is both an attempt to reveal and skewer abuses of power, governmental hypocrisy, and loss of civil liberties, as well as a call for people to rise above these problems. Fairey's work encourages people who don't like the system to change it or work outside of it. Peace advocacy and the questioning of power and authority are dominant themes. Shepard Fairey's new body of work contains politically-charged screenprint, stencil, and collage mixed media pieces which use metaphor, humor, and seductive decorative elements to deliver provocative but beautiful results. These works blur the perceived barriers between propaganda and escapist decoration, political responsibility and humor with the intent of stimulating brain and heart/viscerally and intellectually.
Merry Karnowsky Gallery
Solo Exhibition
September 16th through October 14th, 2006
Opening Reception: September 16th, 8-11pm
170 South La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
www.mkgallery.com ¶ 3:46 PM
