Live Each Day as if it’s the First

About This Work

David Shrigley's 2022 screenprint Live Each Day as if it’s the First is a quintessential embodiment of the artist's distinctive voice. Measuring 75 by 56 cm, the print is part of a limited edition of 125, capturing the spirit of Shrigley's deliberately crude aesthetic. Known for his wobbly figures and slightly chaotic compositions, Shrigley consistently explores the arenas of anxiety, banality, and existential musings through an eccentric yet poignant lens — a perspective that his audience finds both hilariously absurd and provocatively insightful. This print showcases Shrigley’s typical approach, one that he has honed since his early days with self-published photocopied books and comic strips for prominent British newspapers. The visual language he employs is deceptively simple. His use of aphoristic captions alongside childlike drawings conveys deadpan humor with an undertow of melancholy, prompting viewers to look deeper into their own daily experiences. The title Live Each Day as if it’s the First infers a reversal of the common encouragement to "live each day as if it’s your last," instead inviting an appreciation of beginnings — a concept both comforting and daunting in equal measure. Having received formal education in environmental art from the Glasgow School of Art, Shrigley's broad practice spans beyond printmaking to encompass sculpture, animation, and large-scale public installations. Noteworthy among these are his major public commissions such as Really Good, a massive thumbs-up statue in London, and Life Model, an interactive piece engaging the public in the act of drawing. Shrigley’s broad-ranging explorations continually navigate themes of contradiction, inviting us to confront life's unpredictable absurdities through a seemingly simple yet deeply layered visual and textual dialogue. David Shrigley holds a significant place within contemporary art circles in Britain and internationally. His works are celebrated for their ability to juxtapose humor with inner contemplations, often leaving the audience with an aftertaste of both reflection and amusement. Live Each Day as if it’s the First is a sterling addition to Zebra One Gallery's collection, reflecting the gallery’s commitment to showcasing unique and thought-provoking contemporary artworks.

About the Artist

David John Shrigley (born 17 September 1968) is a British visual artist. He lived and worked in Glasgow, Scotland for 27 years before moving to Brighton, England in 2015. Shrigley first came to prominence in the 1990s for his distinct line drawings, which often deal with witty, surreal and darkly h...

Zebra One Gallery

Contemporary Art • Hampstead, London

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