Shepard Fairey and his mural attacked in Copenhagen

Posted on August 12, 2011 by sleepboy

Shepard Fairey & Romeo Trinidad (post attack). Photo by Jon Furlong.

As you know, Shepard Fairey’s (featured) was just in Copenhagen for his show at V1 Gallery (covered). We had privately been told by multiple sources that him and Romeo Trinidad of OBEY Clothing had been attacked while in town, but didn’t want to write about it until there was official word released (which just happened). Suffice it to say, it was a complicated situation in part perpetuated by misinformation in the press surrounding the first mural in a series of murals he did on the streets.

Shep ended up with a black eye and broken rib but thankfully with no serious injuries. The controversy stemmed from the placement of the mural next to the old 69 Youth House and subsequent misunderstandings leading to the attack as well as the mural being bombed, then repaired beautifully with the help of some of the artists from the Youth House collective called RaxArt, then fire extinguisher bombed again.

See it all after the jump…

Original mural. Photo by Henrik Haven.

Bombed (No Peace. Go Home Yankee Hipster). Photo taken from Kempstumblr.

RaxArt working on repair. Photo by Rasmus Osterhammel.

Completed repair incorporating defacement. Photo by Rasmus Osterhammel.

Fire extinguisher tagged. Photo by Sandra Hoj.

Discuss this show here.

About sleepboy

Art Enthusiast & Collector. Founder & Editor of Arrested Motion. Founder of Artchival Forum. Gasman.
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  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PD2HRVCDP5K4TXXA332U77JT2Q acedude

    oh my……..such a violent world
    do what lennon said..give peace a chance

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PD2HRVCDP5K4TXXA332U77JT2Q acedude

    oh my……..such a violent world
    do what lennon said..give peace a chance

  • Anonymous

    a dialogue on a wall that speaks volumes. Bless the hearts of the amazing RaxArt, Fairey, Trinidad.
    In Solidarity,
    - muralist in Albuquerque

  • http://twitter.com/YeskaJeskaXO Jessica Reynoso

    this isnt even cool see thats just another reason why the world is so fuked up!

  • http://twitter.com/YeskaJeskaXO Jessica Reynoso

    this isnt even cool see thats just another reason why the world is so fuked up!

  • http://twitter.com/YeskaJeskaXO Jessica Reynoso

    this isnt even cool see thats just another reason why the world is so fuked up!

  • http://twitter.com/YeskaJeskaXO Jessica Reynoso

    this isnt even cool see thats just another reason why the world is so fuked up!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PD2HRVCDP5K4TXXA332U77JT2Q acedude

    I hope that mural gets put in a museum somewhere

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1453194650 Dan Gee

      Thats the exact opposite of what street art is about. It would be making it elitist rather than for everybody.

      • Anonymous

        if you really wanted it to be for “everybody” it would be in the street and in the museums. I can def say im from the streets and one important thing ive learned growing up is not everyone else is.

  • Anonymous

    peace is just a word in these days..sadly..

  • Anonymous

    peace is just a word in these days..sadly..

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-Serres/1464031194 Jason Serres

    This is said. What an embarassment. Shep is trying to spread peace in a very diplomatic and genuine way. I don’t really understand this at all(the attack).

  • http://www.joshroupe.com Josh Roupe

    lol Somebody once bombed my work and called me a Hipster. We should replace the “er” with an “a” and flip it around like black folks did. As for Shep, anybody making a stand for peace is always the target of those who don’t want it. If anything, the haters’  toy scribble on top of the mural will remind by-passers that there are people still in the world who are opposed to peace; which ironically, drives his message even further… 

  • Anonymous

    I dont know but to me the last pic is the coolest. the fire extinguisher tag really goes well with the chaotic scene on the bottom.  AND The peace dove is still soaring higher than all the hate and violence going on at the bottom.

  • Anonymous

    I dont know but to me the last pic is the coolest. the fire extinguisher tag really goes well with the chaotic scene on the bottom.  AND The peace dove is still soaring higher than all the hate and violence going on at the bottom.

  • http://twitter.com/seandanconia Sean D’Anconia

    Certainly, it seems that Europeans often resort to brutality to squash ideas that they dislike.

    However, in Fairey’s case, he is indirectly promoting, and directly showing sympathy for a Communist stronghold where even the lovely Lenin visited, giving a speech. In fact, Fairey’s art is used to promote his radical-nihilist-marxist views while at the same time—they’re sold in SAKS 5TH?!?!

    I am confused.

    I have never understood men who choose to live and love freedom, and yet promote ideas which are it’s opposite. 175 millions died under Mao and the USSR. They continue to. Communism is not freedom. Supporting it, and it’s followers is not an admirable thing to do particularly when you enjoy the opportunity to live, work and become extremely wealthy in the USA.

    Still, I feel like the Right Wing nutcases who bought and demolished this building are even worse than the present remains of the Communists in Denmark.

    The whole thing is a mess and Fairey plopped himself right into the middle of it. This does not mean that he deserves to be assaulted though.

    We need to challenge the ideas behind a capitalist artist who pretends to be for the workers just as much as we need to expose scumbags who would kill or use violence to make their points.

    You can’t kill an idea, or punch it into submission.

    Challenge Fairey’s ideas. That’s the only way.