The "They Live We Sleep" letterpress is inspired by several things. My original interest in skulls came from their recurrent presence in skateboard and punk rock iconography of the 80s. Especially the Powell Peralta "Bones Ripper" illustrated by Vernon Courtlandt Johnson. I was also a big fan of Lance Mountain's and Ric Clayton's skull drawings for Suicidal Tendencies. Skulls were also a prominent part of the alien ghoul characters in the movie "They Live," which inspired my use of the word OBEY in my art. Graffiti on a wall in the movie "They Live" said "They Live We Sleep". That graffiti basically summed up the premise of the film… that the powerful get away with nefarious acts and manipulation because we are not conscious enough of what is really going on. In the case of this letterpress print, I've pulled from all of those influences and added an oil derrick in the forehead of this particular skull to focus on the (in my opinion) greatest threat to our health and the planet's health. Regardless of what corporations and science deniers say, those of us with a conscience can't sleep on climate change and environmental peril! Thanks for caring!
-Shepard
They Live We Sleep (Cream). 10 x 13 inches. Letterpress on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 200. Obey publishing chop in lower left corner. Comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. $65.
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