David Rosen (artist)
Encyclopedia
David Grant Rosen is a South African fashion designer and art
ist. Trained as a painter
, he is known primarily for his political fashion, art and activism, from his anti-apartheid designs in the 1980s to the Reason8 clothing label in the United States
.
, South Africa
, David Rosen was educated at Sea Point
Boys High School. After graduating in 1976, he was conscripted for two years to the South African 6th Infantry Division. After one year, he was posted to Youngsfield Anti-Aircraft Base in Cape Town where he worked on the Battalion magazine as an illustrator. In 1980-81 he was a student at the Cape Technikon School of Art. In 1982-83 he was student of the School of Contemporary Art in Cape Town.
”), and sold across racial lines in a still very segregated market. He also designed his first “political” tee shirt: an anti-nuclear design highlighting the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station
, not far from where he lived. In 1984, he formed his own business, teaming up with Laurie Dreyer from Chelsea West and Bad Boys Clothing. The line was called “Affair of State”.
In 1985 his “LET'S SHARE” tee shirt was banned by the apartheid government and after it appeared on the front page of The Cape Times newspaper, the security police confiscated anything with his label and the tag-line: “clothes for people by david”.
Frustrated by the politics and general creative environment, David moved to New York city
. In 1986, along with partner Danny Forman (Forecaster of Boston) he formed “Affair of State NYC” designing Better Junior and Contemporary collections. From 1986 to the beginning of the 1990s David made his name in New York city, selling to major specialty and department stores like Bloomingdales, Macy's
and Patricia Field
.
In the early 2000s, David moved to Boston
. Shortly after, in 2003, David created the Reason8 label as a fashion-driven response to the invasion of iraq, and to various political and ideological drifts following the presidency of George W. Bush
. Reason8 shirts combined strong graphic design with though-provoking messages on a range of political and social topics. David designed the "WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception" shirt, in reaction to the controversy around Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. His "I do, I do, I do" became popularly associated with the debate on same-sex marriage
. He also addressed the controversy around the increasing surveillance
with the design "One Nation Under Surveillance". Other designs include the popular "got democracy?", spoof on the got milk?
ads.
In 2008, David was diagnosed with lung cancer
and struggled through therapy for some time. While in treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
he began recording a visual diary of the experience including doing paint-studies of the Infusion Rooms. This became the basis for "Hotel Chemo", a collection of his paintings and words he is currently working on and his first solo exhibition. He has now recovered physically, but this event radically changed his artistic outlook. He now only issues limited editions shirts and his main focus has shifted toward his painting, illustration and multi-media projects. In particular, he focuses on surrealist automatism
as healing tool.
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
ist. Trained as a painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, he is known primarily for his political fashion, art and activism, from his anti-apartheid designs in the 1980s to the Reason8 clothing label in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Education
Born in Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, David Rosen was educated at Sea Point
Sea Point
Sea Point is one of Cape Town's most affluent and densely populated suburbs, situated between Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean, a few kilometres to the west of Cape Town's Central Business District . Moving from Sea Point to the CBD, one passes through first the small suburb of Three Anchor Bay,...
Boys High School. After graduating in 1976, he was conscripted for two years to the South African 6th Infantry Division. After one year, he was posted to Youngsfield Anti-Aircraft Base in Cape Town where he worked on the Battalion magazine as an illustrator. In 1980-81 he was a student at the Cape Technikon School of Art. In 1982-83 he was student of the School of Contemporary Art in Cape Town.
Life and career
In 1983, David Rosen formed his first fashion label called “Electric Affair” (for Momentum Clothing). He designed non-denim pants (“Parachute pantsParachute pants
Parachute pants are a style of trousers characterised by the use of nylon, especially ripstop nylon. In the original loose-fitting, extraneously zippered style of the late 70s/early 80s, "parachute" referred to the pants' synthetic nylon material. In the later 80s, "parachute" may have referred to...
”), and sold across racial lines in a still very segregated market. He also designed his first “political” tee shirt: an anti-nuclear design highlighting the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station
Koeberg nuclear power station
Koeberg nuclear power station is the only nuclear power station in South Africa and the entire African continent. It is located 30 km north of Cape Town, near Melkbosstrand on the west coast of South Africa. Koeberg is owned and operated by the country's only national electricity supplier, Eskom...
, not far from where he lived. In 1984, he formed his own business, teaming up with Laurie Dreyer from Chelsea West and Bad Boys Clothing. The line was called “Affair of State”.
In 1985 his “LET'S SHARE” tee shirt was banned by the apartheid government and after it appeared on the front page of The Cape Times newspaper, the security police confiscated anything with his label and the tag-line: “clothes for people by david”.
Frustrated by the politics and general creative environment, David moved to New York city
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1986, along with partner Danny Forman (Forecaster of Boston) he formed “Affair of State NYC” designing Better Junior and Contemporary collections. From 1986 to the beginning of the 1990s David made his name in New York city, selling to major specialty and department stores like Bloomingdales, Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
and Patricia Field
Patricia Field
Patricia Field is an American costume designer, stylist and fashion designer.-Life and career:Field was born in 1941 in New York City to Greek and Armenian parents, who emigrated from Lesvos, Greece. She was raised in Astoria, Queens and has claimed credit for inventing the modern legging for...
.
In the early 2000s, David moved to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. Shortly after, in 2003, David created the Reason8 label as a fashion-driven response to the invasion of iraq, and to various political and ideological drifts following the presidency of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. Reason8 shirts combined strong graphic design with though-provoking messages on a range of political and social topics. David designed the "WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception" shirt, in reaction to the controversy around Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. His "I do, I do, I do" became popularly associated with the debate on same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
. He also addressed the controversy around the increasing surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
with the design "One Nation Under Surveillance". Other designs include the popular "got democracy?", spoof on the got milk?
Got Milk?
Got Milk? is an American advertising campaign encouraging the consumption of cow's milk, which was created by the advertising agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners for the California Milk Processor Board in 1993 and later licensed for use by milk processors and dairy farmers. It has been running...
ads.
In 2008, David was diagnosed with lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
and struggled through therapy for some time. While in treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana–Farber Cancer Institute is part of a Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute. It is a major affiliate of Harvard Medical School and is located in the Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts.-Overview:...
he began recording a visual diary of the experience including doing paint-studies of the Infusion Rooms. This became the basis for "Hotel Chemo", a collection of his paintings and words he is currently working on and his first solo exhibition. He has now recovered physically, but this event radically changed his artistic outlook. He now only issues limited editions shirts and his main focus has shifted toward his painting, illustration and multi-media projects. In particular, he focuses on surrealist automatism
Surrealist automatism
Automatism has taken on many forms: the automatic writing and drawing initially practiced by surrealists can be compared to similar, or perhaps parallel phenomena, such as the non-idiomatic improvisation of free jazz....
as healing tool.