Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary artist, graphic designer, and illustrator who came out of the skateboarding scene. Fairey became involved in art in 1984 when he started placing his drawing on T-shirts and skateboard. He graduated from Idyllwild Arts Academy in 1988 and in 1992 he graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration. He became famous from his “Andre the Giant” sticker campaign. He helped Barack Obama in the 2008 U.S. presidential election with his “Hope” poster. (Fairey, 89) Fairey bases all of his art on the idea of phenomenology. Phenomenology “attempts to enable people to see clearly something that is right before their eyes but obscured” (Fairey, 89). Fairey attempts to bring people to question both art and their relationship with their surroundings. By using controversial images and topics, Fairey forces his viewer to confront the realities of life.
In this piece Shepard Fairey shows a police officer, someone who is supposed to be honorable and lawful, in a dishonorable position. Fairey makes the viewer question the intention behind the officer. In the corners the words “serve” and “protect” are written, but this officer is doing neither of these things – in fact, he is knowingly going against what is right by presumably beating up an innocent person. Fairey questions that the police force exists to serve and protect us and our reality by questioning their integrity.
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