Artwork Description
Red & Gold Sedation in Bloom Silkscreen Print by Shepard Fairey- OBEY Hand-Pulled on Cream Speckletone Fine Art Paper Limited Edition Artwork Obey Pop Culture Artist.
2021 Signed by Shepard Fairey- OBEY & Numbered Limited Edition of 150 Artwork Size 18x24 Sedation in Bloom Silkscreen Print Series.
"I originally worked on this poppy pattern art as part of my collaboration with artist Gordon Cheung. In our piece, we addressed the tragic murder of Vincent Chin and the historical use of anti-Asian imagery and symbols in Western culture. The poppy is a beautiful flower with many symbolic interpretations, including peace, death, sleep, and sedation. I often weave floral and decorative patterns into my art to draw viewers in and make challenging concepts more digestible. However, decorative appeal can sedate people and distract them from more important social issues. Whether in entertainment, alcohol, drugs, or conspicuous consumption, I think sedation is a major cause of social and political complacency and ignorance. These Sedation In Bloom prints serve the dual purpose of a decorative escape and a reminder to stay awake and aware!" -Shepard Fairey- OBEY.
Red & Gold Sedation in Bloom: The Lure of Street Pop Art by Shepard Fairey
In the dynamic world of street pop art and graffiti artwork, certain pieces resonate with powerful messages that transcend their visual allure. Shepard Fairey's "Red & Gold Sedation in Bloom" is one such symbolic piece. This print forms a part of a limited edition series that Shepard Fairey, an American artist and social activist, introduced to the world in 2021. It exhibits Fairey's refined skill in silkscreen printing and his commitment to infusing his work with societal critique and reflective symbolism. Crafted on cream speckle tone fine art paper, the "Red & Gold Sedation in Bloom" series is a collection of 150 hand-pulled prints, each bearing Fairey's signature and its unique number in the series. The dimensions of 18x24 inches afford the artwork a commanding presence, which compels the viewer to pause and engage. With its vivid red background overlaid with golden poppies, the artwork's color palette is visually striking and loaded with cultural and symbolic significance.
Shepard Fairey's Artistic Commentary through Poppies
The choice of poppies within this series is no mere aesthetic decision. For Fairey, these flowers are loaded with multiple meanings, with each interpretation offering a different lens through which to view the artwork. Poppies are traditionally symbols of peace and sleep; in some contexts, they represent death. These connotations align seamlessly with Fairey's intentions to create art that draws people in with its decorative beauty while subtly urging them to wake from societal sedation. By partnering with Gordon Cheung, Fairey embarked on a collaborative journey that would address the historical injustices inflicted upon Asian communities, particularly accentuated by the tragic case of Vincent Chin. The artwork thus serves as a dual-purpose tool: it is an instrument of beauty that invites contemplation and a vehicle of consciousness that demands recognition of and action against deep-seated societal issues. The juxtaposition of the poppy's inherent beauty with its more somber implications reflects Fairey's broader concerns about the anesthetizing effect of mass entertainment and consumer culture.
The Cultural Resonance of Fairey's Street Pop Art
The "Red & Gold Sedation in Bloom" series encapsulates Fairey's contribution to street pop art and graffiti artwork discourse. His method of spreading his messages, rooted in the rebellious spirit of graffiti art, is crafted to engage a public audience in a conversation about complacency and social consciousness. The prints' limited edition status adds a dimension of exclusivity to the artwork, highlighting the balance between high art and accessible street art that Fairey navigates so adeptly. In the current cultural landscape, where art is often a means of escapism, Fairey uses his platform to anchor viewers back to reality, urging them not to be sedated by the pleasures and distractions of modern life. The artwork's bold colors and floral patterns are more than a retreat for the eyes; they prompt the mind to remain vigilant and aware, a sentiment at the heart of street pop art's ethos. The enduring relevance of Fairey's work lies in its ability to resonate with the onlookers, not merely as viewers but as participants in a shared social dialogue. As the art compels one to confront political apathy and societal neglect, it also exemplifies the potency of street pop art as a medium for transformative thought. Through the "Red & Gold Sedation in Bloom" print, Shepard Fairey — real name Frank Shepard Fairey — reaffirms his status as a pivotal figure in contemporary art, a catalyst for change, and an advocate for vigilance in an era prone to distraction. In these prints, Shepard Fairey has embodied the quintessence of his street pop art philosophy. He presents a work that is as alluring as it is thought-provoking, as immediate in its visual impact as it is enduring in its conceptual depth. "Red & Gold Sedation in Bloom" is not just a statement piece; it is a testament to the power of art as a beacon of awareness in the vibrant and ever-evolving landscape of street pop and graffiti artwork.
