Annals of advertising and uncontrollable optimism

By libby

December 4, 2008   ·   6 Comments

The center of art commerce has moved to Miami this weekend. The art fairs bring us tons of emails nattering for attention. This one, with its image of our forthcoming faithful leader worked for us. Maybe we’re turning into silly teenage fans, but we were both happy to look at this image! It gives us hope at this moment of national failure–both because at last there will be some competence in the White House and because the triumph of the commercial side of art is also about the triumph of prosperity for artists.

Here’s the email text:

MR. BRAINWASH UNVEILS OBAMA SUPERMAN MURAL AT SCOPE MIAMI 2008

One of Los Angeles’ most prominent street artists, Mr. Brainwash (a.k.a. Thierry Guetta), has created a mural of Barack Obama as Superman for SCOPE Art Fair Miami 2008. The French-born artist will also be presenting a large-scale, non-commercial installation sponsored by the SCOPE Foundation.

Of course, I don’t know that Mr. Brainwash’s goal was to paint a superhero. Maybe he has his tongue firmly in his cheek. After all, his name is Mr. Brainwash.

Tags: art basel miami 2008, barack obama, mr. brainwash

6 Responses to “Annals of advertising and uncontrollable optimism”

1. The Drawings of Rob Matthews says:

   December 4, 2008 at 10:40 am

   Reminds me of this:

   http://www.amazon.com/Barack-Obama-Your-New-Bicycle/dp/1592404162/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228405109&sr=8-1
2. libby says:

   December 4, 2008 at 10:51 am

   I have to assume, in spite of small signs to the contrary, that this too is sincere!!!
3. The Drawings of Rob Matthews says:

   December 4, 2008 at 12:49 pm

   Yeah I think the author started it b/c his wife went from extreme cyclist to full-force Obama campaign supporter so he started leaving the notes around the house. Then the notes became a website and then a book. The unfortunately true path of most publishing these days. Why pay a writer? Pay a blog.

   I think both have sincerity but also have “calm down, he’s just a man” quality to it. Investing too much hope or optimism in any one person will ultimately leave you disappointed. That’s what I get from the Superman mural anyway.
4. libby says:

   December 4, 2008 at 4:10 pm

   That’s what I got out of the image. But then the words on the other side of the building…
5. DP says:

   December 5, 2008 at 12:12 am

   The quote is actually a freestyle Jay-Z did. There are clips on youtube.

   http://artmacguffin.blogspot.com
6. libby says:

   December 7, 2008 at 3:26 pm

   Thanks, DP, and thanks for the link to your blog!!!