Shepard Fairey -- the street artist who created the iconic Obama "Hope" poster -- was throttled heartily by some irate Danes who took exception to his carpet-bagging his politics to Copenhagen:
When graffiti artist Shepard Fairey turned his talents to US politics, his reward was international acclaim and a letter of thanks from Barack Obama. When he employed a similar tactic in Denmark, however, the response proved altogether less edifying.
Last weekend, Fairey – creator of the famous "Hope" poster that came to encapsulate Obama's 2008 presidential campaign – was beaten up after the opening of his exhibition at a Copenhagen gallery.
Earlier this month he was involved with a controversial mural that has enraged leftwing anarchists throughout the city.
"I have a black eye and a bruised rib," Fairey told the Guardian.
According to reports, 41-year-old Fairey and his colleague Romeo Trinidad were punched and kicked by at least two men outside the Kodboderne 18 nightclub in the early hours of last Saturday morning. Fairey claims the men called him "Obama illuminati" and ordered him to "go back to America".
The LA-based artist believes the attack was sparked by a misunderstanding over his mural commemorating the demolition of the legendary "Ungdomshuset" (youth house) at Jagtvej 69. The building, a long-term base for Copenhagen's leftwing community, was controversially demolished in 2007. In the intervening years it has become a potent symbol of the standoff between the establishment in Copenhagen and its radical fringe.
Poor bastard, earns a ton of loot painting a poster used by King Putt to get elected and then goes to some Euro-socialist stronghold and gets his lights punched out by a bunch of commie libtards. I tell ya, there's no justice in the world. But don't cry for him, Argentina, he's doing all right fame- and money-wise. Besides, per the article, he kind of cops an attitude himself:
Born to a middle-class family in Charleston, South Carolina, Fairey began his career within the skateboarding scene, designing boards and T-shirts before finding wider fame with his "Obey Giant" sticker campaign. In 2008 his unofficial Barack Obama campaign poster was hailed by the New Yorker's art critic Peter Schjeldahl as "the most efficacious American political illustration since 'Uncle Sam Wants You'."
While the Hope poster was never publicly endorsed by the Obama campaign, its subject sent Fairey a letter. "I would like to thank you for using your talent in support of my campaign," Obama wrote. "Your images have a profound effect on people, whether seen in a gallery or on a stop sign. I am privileged to be a part of your artwork and proud to have your support." Fairey's work now hangs in the Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Portrait Gallery in Washington and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. These days, he admitted, he has grown used to defending himself against accusations of selling out. "I think there are a lot of people who think that if you've done well, you've done a deal with the devil," he said.
The artist said he had not filed a police report following the attack in Copenhagen. "I did not know any of the people or get a great look at them, so it seemed pointless," he said.
"I'm not a huge fan of the cops anyway. The only thing I could see coming out of it was further media commentary like 'street artist whiner Shepard Fairey can't hold it down in a fight so he snitches to the cops'."
O.K., enough of that. I got to get back to following our Best Beloved's America [is going] Bus[t] tour. Maybe more of them goddam redneck inbred Tea Partiers will have their head handed to them by The Light Bringer.
(Seriously, I am sorry I didn't get any money down on the Vegas over/under. I coulda had a nice vacation in Copenhagen this Summer.)
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