Shepard Fairey and Paul Frank Industries laptops
These two sharp-looking HP laptops, reskinned by Paul Frank Industries (left) and Shepard Fairey (right), are currently up for auction on eBay. Sponsored by HP and PC Magazine, the proceeds of the "Computerlicious Design Experience" auction, which includes work by a handful of hipster artists/designers, benefits The National Cristina Foundation, a tech non-profit that deploys donated computers to charities, schools, and public agencies. The Paul Frank model is an HP Pavilion HDX Entertainment Series NB. The Shepard Fairey design is on an HP Pavilion tx1000z CTO NB. Link
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Was the Julius skin designed by Paul Frank, or Paul Frank Industries? Just wondering. It's an kinda important distinction.
I like the "Peace" skin, but an HP laptop? Why do that to yourself?
@DORAN (#1), Thanks for pointing that out. I updated the post! I wasn't aware of the legal hubbub.
Links breaking down Shepard Faireys plagirism:
http://www.art-for-a-change.com/Obey/index.htm
http://www.brghtnghts.com/blog/?page_id=46
Ironically, the Paul Frank thing was a BoingBoing link a while ago.
I wonder if the Shepard Fairey PC comes installed with an OS from a Warez site, software from Emule, and a bunch of BitTorrent MP3's . Now that would be funny.
Hey, you know what would be cool? Have a laptop-lid design that you could transfer to subsequent laptops so that you wouldn't regret upgrading to a newer model; if you would settle for laser etching, that would be pretty easy, I think. (Although you'd have to adjust the image or have filler on the sides if you switched to a wider/narrower screen ratio...)
xxxxxx
Incorporating Art Nouveau borders and graphic flourishes into one's posters doesn't make you a plagiarist. What Shepard is doing is the visual equivalent of audio sampling. Art has always been like this.
@TWIG (#5), I archived my brain in 2007 which is why I didn't remember Mark's 2006 post about the Paul Frank legal feud! ; )
"xxxxxx
Incorporating Art Nouveau borders and graphic flourishes into one's posters doesn't make you a plagiarist. What Shepard is doing is the visual equivalent of audio sampling. Art has always been like this. - NOEN"
Noen,
Fairey isnt simply copying "art noveau borders", he is essentially copying/tracing complete vintage designs. Infact if you go over his entire body of work, youll quickly realize that hes never produced anything that would even remotely display that he has any ability to draw.
Everything he produces has been traced from other artists works without giving credit.
Dude! I just want to know how they attached those designs. I've got some ideas I'd like to sport on mine.
Anyone know how this was achieved?
X,
If you're going to accuse him of plagiarism, it would make more sense to accuse him of plagiarizing the style of someone like Andy Warhol, who sampled source material in a similar fashion. I'm wondering if you have a specific example for the item that's pictured here? Mostly because I'd like to see the source material.
X has a good argument Antinous. If you go to the first of the links he gives there are lots of examples. Apparently, Sheppard has ripped off a lot of old anti-war and pro labor posters.
http://www.art-for-a-change.com/Obey/index.htm
So I think X makes a fair point but I don't know what anyone can do about it. Art has always been highly incestuous. But I am a little dubious of this "but he can't draw" argument. That hasn't a prerequisite for a long time. Fairey does have an original and distinctive aesthetic. There is no doubt about that.
Anyone know how this was achieved?
Most likely it is a printed glossy sticker, similar to the wraps that HP was selling for the short-lived "HP Apple iPod".
It's a shame that when you open up these laptops all that's inside is the trademark HP aesthetic ugliness.
I think that shepards work is very inspirational. Super touch chimes in on his "plagarism"
http://www.supertouchart.com/2009/02/02/editorial-the-medium-is-the-message-shepard-fairey-and-the-art-of-appropriation/