Alberto Korda took a photograph titled "Guerrillero Heroico" that you are no doubt familiar with.
Here's a thread 🧵about this iconic photograph and some other related stories!
#CheGuevara
What you normally see is the cropped version of the photograph (usually on a t-shirt).
This is the full photo of Ernesto "Che" Guevara. It has another person and a palm tree, both of which were thankfully removed.
This iconic photograph was taken during the memorial service for the victims of the French vessel, La Coubre. The ship exploded in the Havana harbour the day before, killing hundred people and injuring many others.
This is Che and chums walking to the cemetery in protest.
The protests took place because Fidel Castro blamed the CIA for these explosions.
This was at the time when the US - USSR cold war was in full force with things like the space race and nuclear proliferation heating things up between the two superpowers.
Cuba played its part as a communist nation and allied with the USSR.
1960s US imagined a situation where they had to worry about nukes in Cuba and tried their best to neutralize this threat.
The alleged bombing of the La Coubre was part of this plan. Cuba was, naturally mega pissed off at this turn of events.
The person who took the photo, Alberto Korda, was Fidel Castro's official photographer.
Korda clicked many snaps that day. Here is the reel of photos, one of which includes the immortal picture of Che in the fourth row.
The next person in this story is the Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick received the photo and modified it.
He made it in three colours - black, red & the yellow star and added an F at the bottom right corner.
Fitzpatrick gave away the print for free to anyone who'd take it since he wanted the image to "breed like rabbits".
His liberal use of the image and the lack of copyright made it a popular image that is used in various types of merchandise.
Here's Margaret Thatcher, Justin Trudeau, Alfred E Neuman (mascot of Mad Magazine) and a dog, all in the same format.
This image inspired other variations. For instance, the American poet and photographer Gerard Malanga created a fake Andy Warhol version & sold it to a gallery in Rome.
When Warhol heard of the fraud, he "authenticated" the fake, provided that all money from sales went to him
Banksy made a version with Fidel Castro wearing the Che t-shirt. @banksy
The next person in this story is Shepard Fairey
@OBEYGIANT on twitter.
He was inspired by Che's print and created "Progress
Progress is the lesser known cousin of "Hope" that you're all familiar with. It was used by the @BarackObama campaign.
"I would like to thank you for using your talent in support of my campaign. The political messages involved in your work have encouraged Americans to believe they can change the status-quo."
(continued)
"Your images have a profound effect on people, whether seen in a gallery or on a stop sign. I am privileged to be a part of your artwork and proud to have your support. I wish you continued success and creativity." – Barack Obama, February 22, 2008
Now, a bit of self promotion!
We @IWTKQuiz decided that our logo & art work would be inspired by Shepard Fairey's "Hope" poster.
All the colours you across all visual identity is based on the same colours.
We try using these colours as much as possible.
History continues to fascinate us.
Who'd have imagined that funeral protests from 60 years ago would take such a route, featuring Fidel Castro, Che Guevara,Simone de Beauvour, Jean Paul Sartre, Jim Fitzpatrick, Shepard Fairey, Barack Obama & end with our dear leader @sai_ganesh
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