Ron English gets fresh

Controversial “Popaganda” artist Ron English visited the Philippines last Saturday for a signing at FreshManila in Quezon City.

It was a stop on his Asian tour to promote his “Abraham Obama” vinyl bust from the popular toymaker MINDstyle.

The bust is basically a three-dimensional version of his famous painting-posters which were used by the Obama campaign in last year’s US election.

MINDstyle made the busts in a variety of colorways, but limited to 50 colorways worldwide. The Asian exclusive bronze edition was available at the signing, as well as the FreshManila exclusive green edition.

Also for sale were 20 canvas prints of the famous artwork, as well as a black prototype of a forthcoming Ronnie Rabbbit mini-figure, limited to 50 pieces, all signed and numbered by the artist.

If you’re lucky they may have some of these items left.

The event drew dozens of the artist’s fans, including anchorman Julius Babao (with wife Christine Bersola) and race driver Gabbie Dela Merced.

Guests were treated to waffles, cotton candy and ice cream.

English was greeted by a marching band with majorettes. This seemed to please him, as he took several pictures, and posed for some as well. Later, some clown acrobats put on a show and fireworks were set off in the vacant lot across the street.

Inside Fresh, eager fans brought in their prized Ron English possessions. Most had vinyl toys, others had books, but all had smiles and wanted their own personal photo op with the shy Texan.

English sat behind a table next to a three-foot replica of one of his most famous creations: McSupersize, a freakishly obese mascot with resembling a certain Ronald who’s fond of hamburgers.

Director Morgan Spurlock used this image as a poster for his successful documentary, Supersize Me, which featured an interview with Ron English. This cameo exposed English to a wider audience, apart from the art-punk and fine art crowds that both claim the artist as one of their own.

I got to speak with the artist before things became hectic and crowded.

Of the vinyl collectible industry that’s embraced him with such enthusiasm, he says: “It’s exposed me to a different crowd, a different audience.” As a painter he can only put on so many shows a year, but companies can release toys based on his body of work the whole year round.

“It’s allowed me to travel to places like here and meet lots of different people, so I’m grateful,” he said.

His latest wave of mass media attention comes via the work that’s brought him here: the Abraham Obama painting.

“The Obama people had approached me after they’d seen my McCain billboard (English made billboards that parodied a Viagra ad, featuring then-candidate John McCain and the slogan “I wanna be erected!”). They talked to a bunch of artists, including Shepard Fairey, Dave Choe.”

Indeed, this was a clever move by the Obama camp. The images the artists created became popular and iconic, especially among the youth, who proved instrumental in Obama’s November victory.

Fairey’s Obama bust in particular, which he released under a Creative Commons License (meaning anyone could reproduce it so long as they didn’t profit from it, claim credit, or alter it), appeared on walls and shirts everywhere. The original was recently purchased by the Smithsonian Institute. When Time magazine chose Obama as their Person of the Year, Fairey was commissioned to do the cover.

English’s painting, a portrait of Abraham Lincoln’s classic hair and beard with Obama’s face, was just as popular, sparking talk and reflection.

I asked him about the genesis of the image. “It was the first thing that came to mind, really. Lincoln freed the slaves, was responsible for the Emancipation Proclamation. Both were skinny, both were intellectuals, both were from Illinois (laughs). Even in temperament, they were pretty similar.”

The original painting became part of an exhibit called “Art Politic” and was used extensively by Obama supporters in the weeks leading up to the election.

“A lot of people only know me now because of this,” he says.

It’s the reason he was able to visit us here, after all.

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FreshManila is at 5 Sgt. Esguerra Street, South Triangle, District 4, Quezon City.

Call for 412-8786 for more information.