Description:

Lee Bruce

Bruce Lee Etching by SSUR, Provocative Modern Artist

An etching on tempered frosted glass depicting martial artist Bruce Lee (1940-1973), by Ruslan Karablin (born 1969), the artist and clothing designer also known as SSUR©. The monumental portrait was backlit and once formed part of the SSUR gallery storefront in lower Manhattan. Comes with outstanding provenance material provided by the artist! Measures 75" x 58" including the aluminum frame.

SSUR has depicted Lee as he appeared in his iconic role as Chen Zhen in 1972's Fist of Fury: bare-chested, garbed in loose, black pants, and assuming a defensive position. This image would have greeted both passerby and customers of SSUR's eclectic clothing store in the 2000s.

Accompanied by a photocopy of a December 1, 2010 document entitled "Ownership Transfer" originally signed by Karablin, as well as an artist's statement dated January 1, 2010, reading in part:

"The Bruce Lee etching was inspired by the lavish Chinese restaurant windows around the NYC Chinatown area as well as worldwide.  

Bruce Lee has inspired SSUR throughout his life and has been a focal point for much of his art during his career. Bruce Lee served as an icon of strength, logic, and skill for SSUR thus providing the foundation SSUR was looking to exude.  

The Bruce Lee etching was done on half inch thick tempered frosted glass, which was water pressured etched circa late 90's early 2000's. The Bruce Lee Etching was the SSUR© Gallery window display in the Nolita section of NYC for roughly 7 years."

Ruslan Karablin is a modern artist specializing in what he calls "disruptive art." The painter, printmaker, and sculptor first put his designs on clothing only to promote his artwork. Yet when his hats, jackets, and t-shirts became trendy streetwear, SSUR fully embraced the concept of popularizing his subversive clothing line. Since its incorporation in 1994, SSUR brick and mortar establishments as well as pop-ups have appeared in Los Angeles, Shanghai, Odessa, and Singapore. SSUR's trademark is taking well-known religious, cultural, and political imagery and adding a shocking twist. Jesus Christ, Uncle Sam, Josef Stalin, and Che Guevara have been depicted in addition to Bruce Lee; Coca Cola, McDonalds, and Versace have been targets of SSUR's acidic artistic commentary.

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