Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

« Dept. of Karma | I Know We Are All Excited... »

Monday, January 19, 2009

Inauguration / Visual Art The Obama Lisa

Posted by Eli Sanders on Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 6:00 PM

29f8/1232415944-obamalisa.jpg You've probably heard that Shepard Fairey's original "Hope" poster was acquired recently by the National Portrait Gallery in D.C. and is now on view for the inaugural. I saw the poster today, along with some interesting portraits of former presidents (including a photorealistic but surreally content George W. Bush). But, owing to the fact that Fairey's Obama poster is literally being treated like the Mona Lisa—cordoned off, huge line to view it, one person or couple allowed in front of it at a time, security guards yelling if you snap an unauthorized picture—this was the best image I could bring you.

It doesn't do the scene justice. In my photo you see one person staring at the poster after having taken a digital picture of it. What you don't see: the crazy line, the insane crowds, and the repetition of couple after couple posing in front of the poster and having their pictures taken with Fairey's Obama. Which is an impulse I don't really understand. The whole point of the Fairey poster what that it would become a viral, iconic image that people could find anywhere and everywhere—and that's exactly what happened. You can buy knockoffs of the poster on the street here in D.C., you can print a copy from a fancy color printer if you have one, you can view the image online in a flash. It has achieved what it set out to achieve: the force of ubiquity.

I guess there's some allure to seeing the original, but to pose with it as if the original were the thing? That's missing the point. The copies, and their impact, were the thing.

Comments (18) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

God yes, all those people who find meaning in the original, they miss the point, the point is copyability, god the masses are so dumb.

I, on the other hand, have the savoir faire to go visit the original and wait in line an hour; that's the precise amount of respect/adulation that's proper for the original.

But others taking a photo of that moment, god that's so dumb.

When oh when will Art be free of the pollution of the masses?

Posted by PC on January 19, 2009 at 6:04 PM

ah...
the heathens prostrating themselves before a graven image.

Posted by worship ME! on January 19, 2009 at 6:13 PM

You can make your own with your own slogan now, hello?!?

http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/

It's kinda fun

Posted by Non on January 19, 2009 at 6:18 PM

It IS being treated like the Mona Lisa... both as a rarified viewing blockbuster and as something that you see reproduced over and over again, knocked off, quoted, mocked, debated, puzzled over, etc.

I think the need to see the original Mona Lisa or the Starry Night or the Shepard Fairey is because of its ubiquity, not in spite of it.

Posted by actual size on January 19, 2009 at 6:51 PM

Wait a minute — wasn't the "original" an Adobe Illustrator file? Fairey first released this as a very limited edition poster on his web site, and provided the PDF for people to download and print themselves.

Posted by Sneaker on January 19, 2009 at 7:11 PM

Eli...I was at the Lincoln 2.0 ball last night, and had several minutes, on my own, in front of the Fairey. Of course I know of the ubiquity of the image, but the image had a depth that I had never seen in the pics or reproductions. For example, I didn't know it had newsprint underlying the primary image. There's a lot of detail in the image that only seems present in the original. Looking at the bland pics of prior Presidents makes me proud that this image will take its place next to those.

Posted by Tim on January 19, 2009 at 7:21 PM

Would the writer of this article say the same thing about the US flag or the constitution? The flag especially is a viral, iconic image that people could find anywhere and everywhere. It too has the power of ubiquity. Would it be stupid to pose in front of these things as well?

I'm not comparing the significance of an image of Obama to the significance of something like the US flag. I personally think Obama is a turd sandwich. I'm simply pointing out that to some people, this image means everything.

Posted by raincityradio.org on January 19, 2009 at 8:04 PM

Dumbest post ever, Eli. So condescending. "You rubes all are missing the point. I'm the only one who gets it."

Posted by rjh on January 19, 2009 at 8:16 PM

So it's okay that I make and sell knockoff Monets and Van Goghs? Cool!

Posted by laterite on January 19, 2009 at 9:00 PM

I am also going to hold out "Hope" that this was the last in a long line of really dumb Slog posts today.

Posted by laterite on January 19, 2009 at 9:05 PM

@7
And you will be eating that "turd sandwich" for a long time there skippy, so run along back to your lame little blog and make your inane and vapid comments there.

Posted by Look at me I have a blog i feel so important on January 19, 2009 at 9:49 PM

it's obama fever...
obamamania...
duh...

Posted by yup on January 19, 2009 at 9:58 PM

I wonder what Andy Warhol would say if he were alive...

Posted by Chris down in The Couv on January 19, 2009 at 10:02 PM

I went to get a Pollo Asada at El Sabor on Central. The girl at the counter was so incredibly beautiful, I could not stop staring at her, and she allowed it.

She was like the type of female that Kirk would find on some planet and then she would ask "what is kiss?"

She spoke only Spanish and was mexican but in a very Mayan way...with long curling eyes and a proud but rounded nose...she wore decorated jeans and a tunic with beads on the end...I'd say a size 3 at most, and definitely 360 as I made sure to take in all sides...she could have been 19...she could have been 29...

It amazes me...to find gems of refined beauty, on the street...and no one else taking notice...

Posted by Take Out on January 19, 2009 at 10:06 PM

@13, he would've quoted from Walter Benjamin's "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Actually, he probably wouldn't have, but...

Posted by Eric F on January 19, 2009 at 10:41 PM

I am reminded by this article of the time I stood a few inches from an original Van Gough- it was at SAM, there was a crowd but every person in that building was respectful. There is no other feeling that matches actually SEEING how high the paint rises off of the canvas. It made me... giddy as a schoolgirl? Truly feel what the word "awesome" means? Unless you've done the same I can't quite get the mood right.
It also prepared me for the shocked giggle that escaped when I saw a bit of newspaper mixed into the paint in a painting in the next room. I wish I could remember what the name of the painting is- I might be able to ask my little sister,and she'll know from the description of where in the room it was. But I'm not sure.
And this is not a quote of anything, by the way- it's just what came out when I started typing.

Posted by vblank on January 20, 2009 at 9:13 AM

It's amazing to think back to the "Andre the Giant has a posse" days, and to see how far Shepard Fairey has come. Never met the guy, but as a Bostonian who played in bands and went to art school, well, I do feel some connection. Pretty damn inspiring that he's become the nation's artist, for however long.

Posted by Levislade on January 20, 2009 at 9:54 AM

fucking gay as shit

Posted by Obama "art" = shitty and gay on February 5, 2009 at 9:29 AM