Covid & Obey instead of Aids & Riot, diptych, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 70x70 cm
LOVE by Robert Indiana was originally printed as Christmas cards, commissioned by MoMA in 1965. During lockdown in 2020 I had postcards made based on my COVID painting above and sent them to family and friends. I also offered the postcard design to MOMA, New York and König Galerie, Berlin without any luck.
In 1987 General Idea appropriated Robert Indiana’s LOVE to AIDS. Not long after Gran Fury adapted the logo to RIOT. OBEY is my response to Gran Fury’s work. Gran Fury’s aim was to activate people to RIOT against the lack of work against aids. Today we’re surrounded by Covid_19 and we’re asked to follow strict social distancing rules, to stay at home and get vaccinated, we’re asked to OBEY.
Stay the fuck at home I, 2020, plastic wall light, light cord, light bulb, mdf letters, 20x26 cm
Stay the fuck at home II, 2020, embroidery on disposable plate, 20x20 cm
‘Stay the fuck at home’ is a hashtag that appeared on social media (Facebook & Instagram) during the first lockdown in 2019. People started telling each other to do so, some using the hashtag some using the newly offered Facebook profile picture frame template. The message got particularly grotesque when people used the request with posts of events or other social gatherings of people.