Appropriation photography or art is when the use of a pre-existing image or art is then used within another piece of work. It is also when the pre-existing image or art has been edited or reconstructed with little or no transformation.
When given the task to create two images which has had the style of appropriation applied to it, I started researching online for inspiration. I came across a piece of photography produced by Frank Shepard Fairey, who had created an illustrational poster for the Obama campaign in 2008.
Fairey Vs Press
Critics had said that this piece of art was the most efficacious and political illustration since the World War 2 poster ‘Uncle Sam wants you’. Because this piece was produced with a copy written photograph, the champagne team officially admitted having no involvement with it, due to legal reasons. Although this inspirational piece was considered effective and successful, due to Fairey breaking copyright laws, he was fined $25,ooo and 300 hours of community service.
What inspired me about this piece of work is that, whilst coming across other appropriation images, like Richard Prince ‘Cowboys’, this was the first image I discovered to be fined and prosecuted for using someone else’s photography/art, even though the artist behind this image had reconstructed the original image more than other photographers, like Richard Prince who had just rephotographed an image from the Marlboro Advert.
My Appropriation Images
When considering the Fairey piece, I decided to research into recent news stories surrounding politics due to Fairey’s work being centered around US politics. In the local news it was revealed that David Cameron had sexual relations with a pig, so I thought that this would be a perfect chance to incorporate this news story within my own work. So I obtained an image of David Cameron and opened it up in Photoshop. I then reconstructed it in the style of Fairey and instead of Applying the word ‘HOPE’, I wrote ‘PIG’. This could be considered a controversial piece, due to some peoples opinion of David Cameron. So therefore this piece could be reflected to have two sets of meanings behind it.
After producing my first image, I then went on to consider other iconic figures within society. So I decided to create another appropriation illustration, this time of Bob Marley, who is one of my biggest idols since I was a kid. I then applied Fairey’s technique again to the image I obtained and because the colours on the ‘HOPE’ poster are meant to illustrate patriotism, I then decided to apply the colours of the Jamaican Flag, due to this being the birth place of the subject. I then applied the word Legend to the top, because I’ve never known a person yet who hasn’t liked Bob Marley or his music, so to me it seems that he is an international iconic figure and is known by everyone, so I felt the word Legend was suitable for this image.