Friday, February 7, 2020 at 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM⠀
Samuel Owen Gallery
382 Greenwich Avenue⠀
Greenwich CT⠀06830
It began with an absurd sticker illustration of the wrestler André The Giant, which then evolved into an exploration of control, questioning control, and questioning the giant monolithic forces that we are all subjected to, confronting these giant issues with his work, revealing the duality to the name. The title ‘Facing the Giant’ references the giant of Fairey’s prolifically disseminated Obey Giant art campaign, but more enduringly, the giant issues and forces he confronts through his art.⠀
Shepard Fairey created this image of an Arab woman three years after the start of the second Gulf War. The work is a response to the extreme anti-Islamic rhetoric of the time. With this piece, Fairey confronts the notion of collective blame directed against all Arabs. Fairey portrays her as a characteristically strong woman, who looks directly at the viewer, confidently but no menacingly. Her countenance is appealing and relatable, evoking a humanizing effect on a group of people that are often misrepresented as threatening. The artist intends to stimulate humanity and compassion, challenging preconceived notions about Muslims, otherwise perceived as the enemy. The floral design of Turkish origin is intended to subconsciously evoke a unified appreciation of beauty and function as a bridge between the West and the Middle East, a familiar form that brings us all together.⠀⠀
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Coming from punk rock, skateboarding, and rebellious subcultures, he started off doing work in the street without permission. It was in 2008 that Shepard Fairey became a worldwide household name when he created, the renowned Obama Hope poster in red and blue colors. Since then, Fairey’s work has continued to reach the masses, inspiring the public on a global scale. Fairey’s mega sphere installation under the Eiffel Tower, entitled ‘Earth Crisis’, brought attention to the climate and sustainability debate. His work continues to address current topics of discussion across his worldwide solo exhibitions and museum shows, from Los Angeles to Paris, London, Seoul, New York, Munich and many more.⠀
‘Facing the Giant’ is a curated series of images chosen for their importance aesthetically and conceptually, and for addressing critical topics and themes frequently recurring throughout Fairey’s career. “This show is a reflection, not a retrospective, because I’m still very actively creating new art, but I like the idea of highlighting both the continuity and evolution of my art and concepts over 30 years.” – Shepard Fairey, 2019 ⠀