Akut (1977) - Humans be Human

Numbered and signed Offset Lithograph by German artist Falk Lehmann, a.k.a. Akut.
Humans be Human.
2021.
Edition of 110.
50 x 70cm.
Multi-Design Rough 240gsm Papyrus.

Portrait in shades of brown, white, black and green.
Street-Art style. Original mixed media on canvas.

The print is brand new and was stored flat. It will be shipped rolled in a tube with extra protection and insured, which means a slightly higher postage cost.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Born in 1977 Akut is a known street-artist and photographer. His graffiti career started in the early 1990s, while he was a teenager. Akut was not so interested in common graffiti tagging and letter-painting. Instead he focused on painting photorealistic wall pieces. His unique style led to a collaboration with Hera the painter in a duo called Herakut,. This prolific partnership that started in 2004 brought international recognition, bringing their artworks in London, Berlin, Amsterdam and numerous gallery shows.

Akut more recently fosued on his solo work, and developed numerous works for group exhibitions in London, Paris and Los Angeles. In that time, he started to focus further his exploration of portrait, as one of the most famous and oldest subjects in art.

Akut strive for creating an expressive yet delicate photorealism met subtile graffiti roots, creating today’s individuals dealing with their existence in liminality.

ABOUT THE ARTWORK:
In this artwork, Akut specifically explores how we connect to each other and what makes one's identity. A topic that has been brought in the light of public debate in the recent years, along with the discussions about gender equality, identity, religion and cultural identity.

"With the artwork “HUMANS BE HUMAN” I’m going back to the basics of my artistic toolbox, which is rooted in the graffiti scene. I've used lines, drips, spray can splashes, styles and simple shapes to create a subject, and used intense, photorealistic eyes to express this subject's unicity.
I've used each of these artistic tools as building blocks, in the same way genes. are the common and shared building blocks of humanity. Although we are all built from a combination of the same genes, we all turn out to be a unique composition, that usually doesn’t want to be defined by other peoples' opinions.

What would these other people tell you of the subject in this piece? Would they say it is female, because of its cheeks, of its the plump lips? But then, if it is a female representation, why the short hair? It looks too androgynous, unless it is a female-looking male?

What do you think? And why the gender of the subject represented here does even matter?
Does it make it easier for you to connect with it? Is it really necessary to know to gain a deeper meaning of the piece?

For me, the bottom line is that there's no need to make it that difficult. I only want for the viewer to go back to the most obvious basics and think of my subject as simply being the portrait of a human"

STREET-ART MOVEMENT:
Akut belong to the wide and ever growing Street-Art movement which orginated in the late 80's graffiti scene and has since been reclaiming the public space as a place to emancipate art and make it truly accessible to everyone. Councils and overall the public domain have now recognized its power and ability to renew and revive cities, abandonned areas and overall generate interest and people (re)engaging with commons. Many festival, commissions and dedicated museums now celebrate the diversity of styles.
Some of the most prominents members of this movement are: Bansky, Obey (Shepard Fairey), Invader, C215, JR, Vhils, Mr. Brainwash, FAKE, Jef Aerosol, Swoon, Speedy Graphito, Cornbread, Futura 2000, Kaws, D*Face, Misstic, Fin DAC, 1010, Alexi Diaz, Alias, Alice Pasquini, Axel Void, Blek le rat, Cranio, Super A, Danielle SeeWalker, Hoxxoh and many, many more.