The Obama Influence in Worldwide Art

By, Christan Summers

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Christan@ebbandpflow.com

So I have not been back to America since Obama’s election. I was in bangkok when he won and traveled up to Laos shortly after he became our President. Now I am in Paris and after visiting the Art Paris and speaking with people from Europe and Asia. I really wanted to write a quick note about how amazed I am about the influence Obama has created worldwide. 

Really. It is incredible. If you tell a non-American you are from America, the first question and/or exclamation is a reference to Obama. I have heard, “Yes we can” more than I have heard “bonjour.”

I was speaking with a Parisian woman the other night and she told me how Obama’s election is a sign of hope for people worldwide. Which is an obvious auumption, but when you hear it from someone who is really serious, someone who had no hope in America as a reasonable country, and who now praises America because of our president elect, that is worth mentioning.

But the reason for this post is the reference back to art and how often Obama is being used in art on a worldwide scale. Artists are using Obama in everything. T-shirts, posters, graffiti, wall murals, designer art, its everywhere here in Paris. At the Art Palais, one of the most popular pieces was a collage of photos from American history which pattern drew Obama’s face. That was ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR.

I wonder so many things about this movement. Is it too much? Is it just right? Is it silly to give Obama’s color so much attention? And is that what its really about? Why didn;t any artists appreciate Bush? If we give so much attention to Obama’s color are we just feeding the fire or finally letting it lose?