The print is 40 x 40 cm, edition of 50, numbered on the left and
signed/dated 08 on the right, on white thick cardpaper, straight edges.
It was hand printed by Olivier Marescaux, at TTDMRT studios, Troyes (France)
It will be released at the opening of the "Spray it Loud" Jef Aerosol exhibition organized by Blind Angle Gallery at the Islington Arts Factory (London), on february 8th 2008.
"This brand new print is a tremendously important image for me, as it was the first stencil I ever cut, way back in 1982, from a photobooth self portrait. It's the very first one I spray painted on the walls of Tours (France) more than 25 years ago !
The Mickey ears were added later. I've already cut this stencil many times since that time and I can't imagine never using it again ! It has become my "avatar" and as much a "trademark" as my red arrow, and for a lot of people who have known my street stencils since the beginnings, it is definitely symbolic of my work. I think I like this selfportrait for its energy, its "punk" and wild aspects, the way it can be seen as a shout as well as a laughter...
The Mickey ears were added a while ago and they obviously state that I belong to the "Disney generation" even though I reject "Dysney Kultur" and all it implies ! The "Wake up" wording underlines this and means : come on, free yourself from that consumer society and think for yourself, don't be a manipulated Mickey !
The fact the print isn't on high quality paper but on cardpaper (like a vinyl album cover) adds to its "cheap punk" side, and the price is also quite cheap : 50 pounds...
I'm also happy with the spraypaint aspect that shows well. I had wanted to release this image as a print for quite a long time and here it is now, in a very limited edition... Enjoy !"
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