Artwork Description
Long Live The People Silkscreen Print by Edward Nachtrieb x Shepard Fairey- OBEY Hand-Pulled 5-Color on Cream Speckletone Fine Art Paper Limited Edition Artwork Obey Pop Culture Artist.
2020 Signed & Numbered Limited Edition of 500 Artwork Size 18x24 Silkscreen Print
"Oct 1 is the 70th anniversary of Communist Party rule in China and the Chinese government is planning an extravaganza of choreographed contentment in the mainland while the people of Hong Kong will hit the streets in an effort to secure their rights. I’ve long believed that protests in the streets are an essential tool for meaningful change because the passion, courage, and visceral force of the participants in a mass protest send a powerful message that they are fully committed to their cause! Ed Nachtrieb photographed many incredible moments of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. I’m honored to collaborate with Ed on a set of two images based on his documentation 30 years ago, especially because pro-democracy and human-rights protesters are in the streets of Hong Kong right now! This image “Long Live The People” will be released as a print soon… more details to come. Check out Ed Nachtrieb’s thoughts on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests." -Shepard Fairey- OBEY
"After the People’s Liberation Army was sent in to suppress what is now called the “pro-democracy movement” on June 4, 1989, there was a liberalization of economic rules and policies. China then experienced a remarkable economic transformation. The idea: if people could get rich, they wouldn’t care so much about their freedoms. I think that’s a miscalculation. In Hong Kong today, ideas championed in 1989 have reappeared in a “Revolution of Our Time” in spite of the campaign to erase such “counter-revolutionary” thoughts from history. My images used in these prints are from energetic and optimistic moments of the pro-democracy movement. Victory was in the air. Progress seemed inevitable to those with arms outstretched and smiles beaming from their faces. Shepard’s work reflects their hopes and aspirations. The same ones that fortified those protesters in 1989 are now fuel for the passionate idealists on the streets today." -Edward Nachtrieb
The "Long Live The People" silkscreen print is a collaborative work between Edward Nachtrieb and Shepard Fairey, capturing the essence of protest and the enduring spirit of the people. Hand-pulled with five colors on cream speckletone fine art paper, this limited edition artwork stands as a cultural commentary and a historical reflection on the power of mass protest. The print commemorates the 70th anniversary of Communist Party rule in China, juxtaposing the government's celebration with the civil unrest and pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Nachtrieb's photographs from the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests provide a poignant visual foundation for the artwork. Fairey's adaptation into the print medium amplifies the message of resilience and the quest for human rights. This intersection of street pop art and graffiti artwork embodies the artists' shared belief in the impact of collective action and the pursuit of freedom, resonating with contemporary movements for democracy and social justice.
