Design System

The CHEREPANOFF motif is a graphic iteration of the my art exhibition titled ‘Heroes’ August 2013 at Blank Space Gallery Surry Hills. It’s a extension and evolution of the personal cult. 

“The brand is the person, and the person is the brand in both a personal cult narrative and in a hero context.”

On a clear frozen winter day back in 1976. The death of China's Premier Zhou Enlai sparked a massive public outpouring of grief in Beijing turned to anger towards the Gang of Four. My father and i attended this show of grief and perhaps the first passive demonstration in Tiananmen Square. 

As the crowd rolled in with all the white funeral flowers, i looked up at the larger than life portrait of Mao positionally hang above the main entrance of the Forbidden City with awe. Although at the time i was just a 8yr old boy, i knew what we were doing was against the party policy and can be labeled as 'counter revolutionary'. Almost as if Mao himself was watching us. the portrait dominated the Square and designated fear in every Chinese citizen. 

Later in my adult artistic life i garbled with the idea of portraiture or cameo as personal cult symbol and it's place in society as a tool to designate consciousness and meaning.

The outcome has a direct link to the historical relevance and it’s a creative interpretation of the personal cult.