This past year, the controversial “ObaMao” design featured on t-shirts and other souvenir items throughout mainland China were banned by the Chinese government.

The “ObaMao” design merges the image of American President Barack Obama, which was designed by American visual artist, Shepard Fairey with an equally iconic image of China’s revolutionary communist leader, Mao Zedong.

The “ObaMao” design was created by Chinese merchant, Liu Mingjie who sells various items to tourists within Beijing’s popular and trendy Houhai area.

Liu Mingjie was hoping to sell more “ObaMao” items — especially t-shirts, during Obama’s most recent presidential visit to China, but his store was instead forcefully terminated by Chinese officials prior to his plan was able to come into fruition.

I think that the “ObaMao” design is iconic in itself, due to the fact that it literally merges the visual manifestations of Western and Eastern ideologies, Communism and Democracy, in addition to foreshadowing an even more closely knit political and economic relationship between the world’s two super powers.

It’s unfortunate that the “mocking” of well-known individuals, such as politicians and other celebrities is so frowned upon within Chinese culture that the “ObaMao” design was banned.

Clearly, the cultural merger which the “ObaMao” design suggests is presently a hypothetical merger, but hopefully it will become a very real [one], sooner than later.

More information on the “ObaMao” design can be found below, in addition to images of the design and the visual artist behind “ObaMao”.

www.chinahush.com/2009/11/15/china-bans-obamao-t-shirt-during-obamas-presidential-visit

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Ajani Charles

a j a n i photography: digital image solutions

www.ajani.ca
www.ajaniphotography.com

An Image Of Merchant And Visual Artist, Liu Mingjie

An Image Of A T-Shirt Featuring the "ObaMao" Design