"My newest exhibition, Golden Compass, explores the human struggle to find balance and harmony while combatting injustice and managing righteous rage and grief," Shepard Fairey mentioned at the opening of his new exhibition at Over the Influence Bangkok. "Art is a perfect tool in this quest because it connects to the most compassionate core of our humanity."
The world is at an infliction point, with 71% of the world's population under authoritarian rule according to Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maria Ressa. Speech is being limited, activists detained, protests squashed. Shepard has traversed the world of political art for years, but now is beginning to find his footing in more personal expressions of finding the self, recognizing the strength of self-discovery in times of overwhelming change. "The concepts in Golden Compass serve as guiding principles in our collective journey, guiding us toward self-discovery and contemplation to unlock conscious and subconscious truths. The works in this show offer an interplay of mixed-media collage, bold graphic elements, and type to engage and challenge the viewer on a range of topics. The aim is to create dynamic dialogues that confront complex themes while fostering a direct connection with the audience."