Artwork Description
Idiocracy AP Artist Proof Limited Edition 4-Color Hand-Pulled Silkscreen Print on Fine Art Paper by Shepard Fairey, Graffiti Street Artist Modern Pop Art.
AP Artist Proof 2016 Signed & Numbered Limited Edition of 550 Artwork Size 18x24 Silkscreen Print
"I’ve always felt that art, entertainment, and humor can be the best delivery vehicles for social commentary, so I love the way humor is used in “Idiocracy” to make the social critique more digestible. The movie is a harsh but necessary indictment of the anti-intellectual culture and politics that seem to become the norm more and more everyday. The film is great in a cautionary way and has an enjoyable irony being a somewhat low-brow piece of entertainment about the perils of succumbing to a cultural rejection of anything intellectual or high-brow. In other words, the genius of the film is that it may actually get through to the audience it should reach, rather than just preaching to the intellectual elite" -Shepard Fairey- OBEY
The "Idiocracy" AP (Artist Proof) silkscreen print by Shepard Fairey is a thought-provoking piece, symbolizing a potent blend of street art ingenuity with biting social commentary. Released as a limited edition in 2016, each piece in the series of 550 is hand-signed and numbered, affirming its exclusivity and value in the art community. Measuring 18x24 inches, this work is meticulously crafted through a 4-color hand-pulled silkscreen process onto fine art paper, a testament to Fairey’s dedication to quality and detail. Shepard Fairey, a trailblazer in the modern pop and street art scene, often infuses his work with social and political subtext. His "Idiocracy" print draws from the satirical film of the same name, utilizing its thematic core as a springboard for his own artistic expression. The movie's critique of a society in intellectual decline resonates with Fairey's own observations of contemporary culture, where anti-intellectualism is increasingly mainstream. Fairey's print channels the film’s irony, using the medium of pop art to comment on the potential dangers of a society that devalues knowledge and critical thinking. Fairey acknowledges the power of art, humor, and entertainment as catalysts for discussion and reflection on societal norms. By embedding these elements into his "Idiocracy" print, he not only captures the essence of the film's warning but also amplifies its message through his unique artistic lens. The print, which features the movie’s signature branding "Brawndo" and the tagline "It's got electrolytes!", satirically suggests that the brain craves not intellectual stimulation but rather a fictional beverage. This piece stands as a cultural artifact within the sphere of graffiti art, encapsulating the genre's inherent confrontation with social issues. Shepard Fairey's work is often characterized by its ability to transcend the boundaries of traditional art spaces, engaging with the public in environments that are unconventional yet visually impactful. The "Idiocracy" AP print continues this trend, marrying the rebellious spirit of street art with the evocative power of cinema to challenge viewers to consider the trajectory of cultural evolution.
