New York - Ralph Steadman, the provocative artist who treats subjects with a caustic mixture of extreme irreverence, brutality and unwincing candor and imagination, will star at the second annual Saatchi & Saatchi Hero Show at the Clio Festival, which will take place May 14-17, 2008 at the Gansevoort South Hotel in South Beach. The first Saatchi Hero Show in 2007, with renowned photographer Oliviero Toscani, was a major success, attracting a full house.
"Advertising industry creative pioneers, gurus, renegades, mould-breakers, mischief-makers, visionaries, genii and legends. They're all candidates to be the star of the Saatchi & Saatchi Hero Show," says Bob Isherwood, Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Creative Director, about the session. "Saatchi & Saatchi always champions new talent, but at the same time we also believe in championing the famous and the notorious. Ralph Steadman fits the description perfectly. He's a fearless artist and writer with an unmistakable, unbridled style."
Ralph Steadman (www.ralphsteadman.com) has breathed new life into classics such as Alice in Wonderland and Animal Farm, and has illustrated and written many children's and adult books. In The Grapes of Ralph, he treated the subject of wine with a refreshingly snob-less approach. Along the way, he has even produced award-winning advertising. And he was also there with Hunter S. Thompson when Gonzo journalism was born, blessing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, for example, with the unique eye-whacking vitality of his art. Oddly, Thompson once advised him, "Don't draw, Ralph! It's a filthy habit!" Fortunately for us, Ralph didn't listen.
"Today, cartoon imagery has been flogged to death," commented Steadman. "Electronic wizardry has devoured it, digested it and spat out the bits left stuck in its teeth. What is unacceptable in the world is served up as light entertainment in every living room in the land. What I used to do with a passion, foolishly and vainly imagining I would change the world for the better, I no longer tolerate in myself or anyone else. But draw, always draw - and write!"
The Saatchi & Saatchi Hero Show will take place on Saturday, May 17 at noon at the Gansevoort South Hotel in South Beach, location of all Clio Festival daytime sessions. Isherwood will explain the concept behind the program and introduce Steadman, who will then speak and open the floor to questions. The session is open to all holders of a Clio Passport, as well as those who purchase an individual a la carte daytime ticket. Online registration for the 2008 Clio Festival is open at www.clioawards.com/festival.
Tony Gulisano, managing director, Clio Awards, added "The Saatchi & Saatchi Hero Show is a rare opportunity for Clio delegates to hear a hero speak, and an even rarer opportunity to ask a hero some questions. We are extremely delighted to partner with Saatchi & Saatchi again for the second year running and bring this exciting program to the Festival."
CLIO MEDIA CONTACT:
Jack Mello
press@clioawards.com
+1 201 981 5617
www.clioawards.com
SAATCHI & SAATCHI CONTACT:
Mary-Elisabeth Ghanem
maryliz@digennarony.com
DL: +1 212 966 9525
Cell: +1 646 708 3716