Joe Coleman, Mike McGee, Tom Waits - A Doorway to Joe: The Art of Joe Coleman – Fantagraphics (english version)

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Published on Venerdì, 02 Agosto 2024 09:14

Scritto da Andrea Turetta

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A comprehensive monograph of the artist Joe Coleman, the "walking ghost of old America." Possessed by the spirits that haunt a nation, Joe Coleman paints minutely-detailed portraits and tableaus that present a unique and intensely-personal vision of the world, both hellish and humanistic, seeking the universal in the visceral.

His canon of subjects, a compendium of the famous and the infamous, the dispossessed, the deviant, the damaged and the damned, includes historical figures, murderers, musicians, heretics, writers, artists, and other unshakeable non-conformists, whom the artist channels through paintings so vivid they seem to bear the spark of life. The meticulously-researched narratives contained in Coleman's work—which has been shown in museums and galleries worldwide, and exhibited alongside Hieronymous Bosch, Otto Dix, and George Grosz—also serve as an exegesis of the artist's own psyche and history, confronting trauma and celebrating his circle of intimates and acquaintances.

A Doorway To Joe spans five decades of Coleman's career as a painter and visual artist. The book includes reproductions of over 150 paintings, alongside the artist's own commentary and notes on the works, and fully-illustrated themed essays by leading art critics, writers, and artists that illuminate key aspects of his oeuvre. From his earliest work in underground comics, through his time with confrontational '70s NYC punk band Steel Tips, and explosive performances as his fearsome, carnival geek alter-ego Dr Mombooze-o. As a collector and curator of the Odditorium, Coleman's own private sideshow museum of artefacts that trace his personal obsessions with true crime, carnival culture, reliquaries and icons. The book also explores the enduring relationship with Coleman's wife and muse, Whitney Ward. Featuring an introduction by musician Tom Waits, A Doorway To Joe offers the most complete collection of Coleman's work to date. A funhouse mirror of the world from this most extraordinary American artist.

There is no denying that Joe Coleman is a highly distinctive artist, capable of expressing himself directly and precisely through his works. His creative process is born from a set of personal experiences, including dramatic situations, without ever sparing himself in describing his nightmares or his observations of the world around him. His creations are characterized by a rich and intricate aesthetic, which investigates the darkness of human existence. "A Doorway to Joe: The Art of Joe Coleman" is an extraordinary work that highlights the work of this artist, known for his singular and often disturbing approach to art.

Coleman stands out as an expert in representing reality in great detail, often addressing complex issues related to identity, madness and the human condition. The illustrations included in his book reflect an extraordinary level of quality: each image is made with meticulous care, allowing readers to grasp the complexity of his work. Joe Coleman's works are characterized by his particular attention to detail and a highly personal perspective on reality. His portraits do not simply reproduce likenesses; they capture the essence and emotional nuances of the subjects, telling stories and conveying moods with a unique power. Each composition is dense with elements that hint at a larger narrative, inviting the viewer to lose themselves in a universe that reflects human experiences, cultures and relationships. The technical precision in Coleman's work is accompanied by a particular sensitivity, transforming each work into an aesthetic experience but also an emotional and intellectual journey.

In addition to images of the works, "A Doorway to Joe" also presents reflections by the artist and art critics, which provide valuable context regarding his style and philosophy. This fusion of art and narrative makes the book an engaging read for those interested in the themes addressed by the artist. Coleman is a creator who goes beyond definitions and classifications, creating works rich in meaning and detail. His canvases invite the audience to a profound experience, in which each element tells a story and integrates into a larger discourse. The diversity of themes and styles in his works allows for the exploration of complex emotions and reflections, making each observation unique and personal. The intense introspection and attention to detail make his work particularly compelling, as each glance reveals new nuances and points of view. This wealth of content not only encourages the observer to look beyond the surface, but also offers the opportunity for an ongoing dialogue between the work and the observer.

It was therefore essential to publish a monographic work on such a peculiar artist, whose creative path has always demonstrated great coherence. The arduous undertaking of exploring the shadows of human existence is not within everyone's reach. Artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Francisco Goya, and more recently Lucian Freud and Egon Schiele, have been able to represent the suffering and fragility of the individual in an intense and direct way. Joe Coleman is undoubtedly a great exponent of contemporary art and, by analyzing this volume, one will be able to understand and appreciate his work as a whole. "A Doorway to Joe" is a must-read for anyone who loves contemporary art and its ability to question and provoke. It is an invitation to explore the universe of Joe Coleman, a journey that will capture and disturb at the same time. If you are a fan of unconventional art, this book is a must-have for your collection.

They said:

"Medieval votive painting recorded the corruption of the flesh and spirit, hoping secretly to mesmerize you into a spiritual center. Coleman achieves a similar effect in his votive pieces dedicated to human foibles and sin. Mankind's downfall from grace—rendered in minute brushstrokes of awe, shock and absolution. Mesmerizing and savage." — Guillermo del Toro

"If P. T. Barnum had hired Breughel or Bosch to paint sideshow banners, they might have resembled the art of Joe Coleman." — The New York Times

"His meticulous, intricately detailed, psycho, eye-candy paintings give voice to a ragtag cast. Primarily a portraitist, Coleman paints intense tableaus of those mired in the suffering of the human condition. Experiencing one of his pictures grips the mind." — Juxtapoz

Authors:

Joe Coleman is a world-renowned painter, writer, and performer who has exhibited for five decades in major museums throughout the world including one-man exhibitions at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the Kunst-Werke Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin, the Barbican Centre in London, and Tilton Gallery and Dickinson Gallery in New York. His collectors have included Iggy Pop, Jim Jarmusch, Anthony Bourdain, Leonardo DiCaprio, and H.R. Giger. He was the subject of an award-winning feature length documentary, Rest in Pieces: A Portrait of Joe Coleman (1997) and lives with his wife Whitney Ward in Brooklyn and upstate New York.

Mike McGee is director of the California State University, Fullerton, Begovich Gallery. Over the past thirty years he has authored and published dozens of books about contemporary art. He has also written for newspapers and periodicals in the United States and Europe.

This deluxe edition of A Doorway to Joe: The Art of Joe Coleman is available exclusively through preorders on fantagraphics.com, and includes a limited edition giclée print signed and numbered by Joe Coleman. Featuring Coleman's 2022 painting, The Sorcerer's Mirror at 100 Seconds to Midnight, this 9.25" x 11" objet d'art is printed with archival inks on 100% cotton rag paper that is both acid-free and lignin-free, with hand-deckled edges, printed by Jon Barli and suitable for framing.

Authors: Joe Coleman, Mike McGee, Tom Waits

Title: A Doorway to Joe: The Art of Joe Coleman

Publisher: Fantagraphics

Pages: 450

Format: Hardback

Color: Full-color

Dimensions: 10.3" × 12.4"

ISBN-13

9781683968702

$99.99

For more information:

https://www.fantagraphics.com/products/a-doorway-to-joe