The music is remarkable and has affected the lives of so many in an equally remarkable way. The album cover is noted and remembered for the image of a naked boy swimming after a one dollar bill.
That baby is all grown up and believe it or not it has a name.
Spencer Kenneth Royce Elden was born on January 7th, 1991. Elden's parents Renata and Rick, were paid $200 in return for the picture.
(Photo credit: Kirk Weddle)
In 2001, the year that marked the 10th anniversary of Nevermind, Elden recreated the image for Rolling Stone Magazine. As you can see, in this photo, Elden is no longer wearing his birthday suit. Elden is ten years old in this shot.
(Photo credit: Kirk Weddle)
Elden once again recreated the image for Rolling Stone magazine in 2008 at the age of 17.
Elden is now 20 years of age and has landed himself another sweet gig. He is working for OBEY. For those of you who are unaware, OBEY is a project created by street artist Shepard Fairey.
Take a look at the world in which Elden is lucky enough to step into.
(source)
Fairey is probably most known for his Andre the Giant stickers. The stickers first emerged in 1989 when Fairey would post the stickers in random public places.
Sometimes the stickers would have an image but no text and sometimes the sticker would read, "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" or "Obey Giant".
Fairey explains the sticker's purpose on his website.
The OBEY sticker campaign can be explained as an experiment in Phenomenology. Heidegger describes Phenomenology as “the process of letting things manifest themselves.” Phenomenology attempts to enable people to see clearly something that is right before their eyes but obscured; things that are so taken for granted that they are muted by abstract observation.
The FIRST AIM OF PHENOMENOLOGY is to reawaken a sense of wonder about one’s environment. The OBEY sticker attempts to stimulate curiosity and bring people to question both the sticker and their relationship with their surroundings. Because people are not used to seeing advertisements or propaganda for which the product or motive is not obvious, frequent and novel encounters with the sticker provoke thought and possible frustration, nevertheless revitalizing the viewer’s perception and attention to detail. The sticker has no meaning but exists only to cause people to react, to contemplate and search for meaning in the sticker. Because OBEY has no actual meaning, the various reactions and interpretations of those who view it reflect their personality and the nature of their sensibilities.
If you do not recognize the OBEY sticker you may recognize the Barack Obama posters which Fairey created with Obama's permission.
Fairey is a big figure in the street art world and is often revered as a pioneer. Watch the below 2010 interview with Spencer Elden. Here he explains how the Nevermind photo came about and he discusses his current projects and futher aspirations.
Nirvana Baby, Spencer Elden from Barry O Donnell on Vimeo.
For more information about Spencer Elden visit his blog page, Vampires One Day.
For more information about Shepard Fairey visit the official website, Obey Giant.
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