In general I thought the whole exhibit was a bit arrogant. He's lining himself up as the contemporary Warhol or Haring. I think I just have a thing against his "style." The red and black color scheme creates the propaganda aesthetic but loses its power when its on a museum wall. It just felt like each piece could be better used for a green day album cover.
The interesting part to me was his visual language that he has created through repetition in his works. Arrows, oriental patterns, andre the giant, among other symbols faintly fall into the composition of all his works. In this sense he can be compared to Haring with a unique and consistent visual language. Unlike Haring though, these visuals are created through prints or stencils so they are exact and unfaltering which I'm not sure detracts or adds to his work. By having such exact repetition it makes it harder to consider the works fine art. Warhol was a painter too so many of his replicas has differences in their brush work.
I think that's what was sorely missing from Fairey's work - a single brush stroke or some scribble of pencil, something to signify error and human creation. Without these little marks his work is perfect for magazines, albums, skate decks and T-shirts (available in the ICA gift shop among Fairey hats, tote bags and scarves). Maybe that's where the majority of his art should remain...Haring did do the same thing with the shameless and experimental self-promotion of opening his Pop Shop but his works feel more individualized and less meant for mass consumption.
After 2 days of digesting the exhibit it was exactly what I thought it would be. Nothing freaky or unpredictable, just real-life images that I had seen before in the media.
Two pieces that particularly held my interest in the exhibit were 'Duality of Humanity' and 'Arab Woman.' Both aren't celebrities, and so I was able to concentrate more on the messages and expressions on their faces than other pieces. One thing Fairey is able to create is an entrancing gaze. Staring up at the 6 foot tall 'Arab Woman' in real life was more powerful than anything you'll see in a magazine.
Duality of Humanity
Arab Woman
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