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Les Amateurs
Brecht Evens a vingt-deux ans quand il sort de l’école Saint-Luc de Gand (Belgique) avec, sous le bras, Les Noceurs, son premier livre, son projet de fin d’étude. Ce jeune flamand est emblématique d’une nouvelle génération de jeunes auteurs, doués et cultivés, pris dans l’étau de ce pays bi-culturel, bi-polaire, bizarre pour tout dire... Traduit en sept langues, Les Noceurs a obtenu le prix de l’Audace à Angoulême en 2011.
120 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
21 people are currently reading
888 people want to read
About the author
Brecht Evens
23 books189 followersBelgian cartoonist Brecht Evens was born in 1986 and studied illustration in Ghent, Belgium. Important mentors were his illustration teacher Goele Dewanckel and cartoonist/comedy coach/zen master Randall Casaer.
His debut comic book, A Delivery from Outer Space, was released in 2005. The slightly melodramatic Vincent was released in 2006, followed in 2007 by a little nocturnal fantasy called Night Animals. The Wrong Place (2009), started out as a graduation project and was a departure from the more typical comic art of his earlier books. It won the Haarlem Comic Festival's Willy Vandersteen Award for best Dutch-language graphic novel, and an award at the Angouleme International Comics Festival. He followed The Wrong Place up with The Making Of (2012) and the many-year-end-best-of-list appearing Panther (2016).
Brecht lives in Paris in a charming and oh so Parisian garret apartment.
His debut comic book, A Delivery from Outer Space, was released in 2005. The slightly melodramatic Vincent was released in 2006, followed in 2007 by a little nocturnal fantasy called Night Animals. The Wrong Place (2009), started out as a graduation project and was a departure from the more typical comic art of his earlier books. It won the Haarlem Comic Festival's Willy Vandersteen Award for best Dutch-language graphic novel, and an award at the Angouleme International Comics Festival. He followed The Wrong Place up with The Making Of (2012) and the many-year-end-best-of-list appearing Panther (2016).
Brecht lives in Paris in a charming and oh so Parisian garret apartment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
March 7, 2013
arg I'm torn about this. On one hand I like it cos the art is beautiful and the story is interesting and the plot is original enough. On the other hand I fucking hate it cos I am so sick of graphic novels about dudes in their 30s being hip wankers and shitting on those around them who feed their macho bullshit egos. The main character of this graphic novel was just so unlikeable, what a fucking douche! I mean minor SPOILER ALERT--------------------------------------------------------------------
the way he treats Dennis is appalling (I was just waiting for Dennis to get his own back and he doesn't, WHY?), Lesley's tragic idolizing and Peterson's playing on it is horrible to watch, AND, AND he fucks a 17 year old even tho he has a girlfriend, WHAT? I got so mad at the author for just laying all Peterson's bad behavior out on a plate for us to gawk at and then not calling him up on any of it, for fucks sake. I am so, so sick of macho, art wanker, ironic, hip shit graphic novels and the people who publish them. Why couldn't this story have been told from the point of view of the Curator's wife or even Chloe? I don't need to get inside the head of yet another white, loser, snob 'artiste'. I really hope that this wasn't autobiographical.
the way he treats Dennis is appalling (I was just waiting for Dennis to get his own back and he doesn't, WHY?), Lesley's tragic idolizing and Peterson's playing on it is horrible to watch, AND, AND he fucks a 17 year old even tho he has a girlfriend, WHAT? I got so mad at the author for just laying all Peterson's bad behavior out on a plate for us to gawk at and then not calling him up on any of it, for fucks sake. I am so, so sick of macho, art wanker, ironic, hip shit graphic novels and the people who publish them. Why couldn't this story have been told from the point of view of the Curator's wife or even Chloe? I don't need to get inside the head of yet another white, loser, snob 'artiste'. I really hope that this wasn't autobiographical.
May 19, 2024
Beautiful artwork and funny and insightful story about the function of art in a community. A sort of marginal hipster artist who is not very likable gets invited to a community biennial event, to help them create art and he is the Real Artist, though all the motley crew of locals do art of some kind-- balloon art; a schizophrenic named Dennis makes swirls on everything, and so on. But art gets made and the story is sort of like that hilarious mockumentary about theater in a small community, Waiting for Guffman, that seems to mock the community for their small town ways but also finally affirms the value of art. The "artist" in The Making Of is kind of a jerk, too, though he really does pull the whole cast of oddballs together to do something together--the importance of art communities--and I guess it is useful that he is not just a hipster hero, he has his (many) faults, too The art in this tale about art is stunning, wildly colored over some quick sketched characters and scenes, some wildly beautiful pages, itself an art object that may mystify as much as attract. As with some of the very art he depicts throughout. Is that art?! Exactly, and the answer is yes. I might have wished for an edgier story that wasn't just a simple affirmation of art, but it is a very good story, still, and gorgeous art to hold and see.
January 30, 2016
This humorous and multi-layered meditation on the function and social status of art features painfully convincing characters, lush watercolors, and an inventive grammar that manages to reconcile highbrow with lowbrow ambitions. One of the most interesting comic books to come out of Europe in recent years!
November 13, 2025
First read: A very abusive and pretentious man organizes an art festival, especially concerning organizing a collective art piece.
I'm not sure if the protagonist ever did see the errors of his ways.
The story is nice to read. The characters are varied and interesting. The art work is beautiful and unique; the sequencing is well-done.
I'm not sure if the protagonist ever did see the errors of his ways.
The story is nice to read. The characters are varied and interesting. The art work is beautiful and unique; the sequencing is well-done.
December 19, 2012
Superb- this really moves comics to a new level. Evens is one of those creators who come along once in a while to show how limitless is the expressive potential of comics. On one level Making Of is a gentle and often very funny satire on a circle of untalented provincial artists, and their neuroses. But there are much deeper and more satisfying things going on. For one there is the way that Evens quotes high art as an ironic counterpoint - so there are sudden lapses into pointilism and cubism. The cover has a flower strewn ground that is directly quoted from the 15th century Flemish Unicorn Tapestries (at the New York Met)- as is a later page of an electrical horse walker. In the middle of the cover the 'artists' are building the frame for their ludicrous giant papier mache gnome. The scaffolding is, I suspect, another reference - this time to 'Belvedere', an optical illusion by the Dutch graphic artist Escher. If this all sounds odd, well, it is, but it works.
And then there are the transitions of view, angle and style. Objects, people and walls can be opaque, transparent or nothing more than outlines. A building becomes a cut away, revealing layers of activity. The point of view suddenly disappears into the bushes to reveal a world of insects. As characters drive through a suburb it becomes a birds eye map. These constantly changing view points seem to be inspired by the sense of the freedom you find in good story book art for young children - maybe the wilder work of Richard Scarry.
The transitions can be metaphorical- in one noteworthy example we move, in successive panels from an overview of the box of a plasterboard walled art installation, to the box of a fish tank, then the box of a room (with the fish tank in the corner)in which people are watching television, then to the box of caged birds (which are the subject of the television programme) and then back up again to an aerial view over the tv studio which, we can see, if made of multiple interlocking boxes...
It is stunning stuff- and Evens moves with such unpretentious and self confident ease through this material that you need to take a step back to see how damned clever it is...except when you remember how hard he has worked for that ease because, working in watercolour, he has had to know exactly what he is doing every time he puts brush to paper.
What can I say- superb!
And then there are the transitions of view, angle and style. Objects, people and walls can be opaque, transparent or nothing more than outlines. A building becomes a cut away, revealing layers of activity. The point of view suddenly disappears into the bushes to reveal a world of insects. As characters drive through a suburb it becomes a birds eye map. These constantly changing view points seem to be inspired by the sense of the freedom you find in good story book art for young children - maybe the wilder work of Richard Scarry.
The transitions can be metaphorical- in one noteworthy example we move, in successive panels from an overview of the box of a plasterboard walled art installation, to the box of a fish tank, then the box of a room (with the fish tank in the corner)in which people are watching television, then to the box of caged birds (which are the subject of the television programme) and then back up again to an aerial view over the tv studio which, we can see, if made of multiple interlocking boxes...
It is stunning stuff- and Evens moves with such unpretentious and self confident ease through this material that you need to take a step back to see how damned clever it is...except when you remember how hard he has worked for that ease because, working in watercolour, he has had to know exactly what he is doing every time he puts brush to paper.
What can I say- superb!
December 27, 2018
I liked the art it was very pretty but I hated the main character and the story. Can we stop it with the self absorbed piece of shit men artist who falls in love with underage girl trope? Just an idea.
February 25, 2016
Excellent book! An artist, Peterson, travels to a small town to participate in an arts festival. Once there, he discovers that the whole thing is a bit less organized and more amateurish than he anticipated. He attempts to work with everybody and suggests a group collaboration. Although he seems to do his best to be gracious and not be the center of attention, his very presence seems to throw things off kilter. The artwork in this is magnificent, very lovely watercolor work. I spotted at least one homage to a famous work of art, and there are likely more that I missed (while I do know one or two things about art, there are huge chunks of its history that are unfamiliar to me.) I like how the endpapers basically tell the story of the book, but so allegorically that it's not really a spoiler if you haven't already read the book.
April 24, 2017
Hmm.. I am not quite sure what I think about this graphic novel. The Art was beautiful and the story was both interesting and original, yet I am left rather confused by it. I had hoped for it to take a different turn at some point, but it didn't and then the ending just left me rather lost. Most of the characters were very interesting, but I found the main guy to be so unlikeable that it deducted a bit from the story, but I loved the artistic expression of it. Consensus is three stars from me.
June 8, 2022
This was my first time reading a Brecht Evens comic, but I went in safe in the knowledge that at the very least I'd love the artwork. Evens has a style totally unlike anything else I've seen in comics: vibrant, impressionistic watercolour paintings, largely unrestrained by panel borders, flowing beautifully across the page. It's hard for me to imagine that anyone could fail to find this work attractive.
Reading The Making Of, it quickly becomes apparent that Evens's artwork isn't just nice to look at – it's also masterfully honed for visual storytelling. He understands that every visual element of a comic can serve a purpose and he exploits this to the fullest. Each character has a design and colour scheme that perfectly encapsulates its personality, and subtly morphs to reflect its mood in a given moment. Backgrounds, foregrounds, objects and characters fade in and out in line with their importance to what's happening. Appreciating that he's under no obligation to conform to any kind of realism, he employs perspectives that are physically impossible but that enable him to impart exactly what he wants to communicate. I've referred to David Mazzucchelli's Asterios Polyp as "a blueprint for how to tell stories in the comic medium". Well, Evens is one of the few people I've come across who seems to have seen the blueprint and put it into practice. That isn't to say Evens apes Mazzucchelli, but in his own unique way he uses the same fundamental formalist ideas.
Compared to the artwork, the story in The Making Of is quite conventional. The premise is a professional artist from Brussels participating in a small Flemish village's art festival, alongside a motley crew of enthusiastic locals. As might be expected, there's a degree of culture clash, with Evens parodying and critiquing both the pretentious urban artiste and the hapless country bumpkins. That said, despite some absurd oddball characters, the subject is addressed with a fair amount of nuance and intelligence, often playing with the reader's expectations, and ultimately avoiding excesses of either sentimentality or cynicism.
I know some people can't stand deeply flawed protagonists, especially when said protagonist neither sees the error of his ways nor gets his comeuppance. Such readers might do well to avoid The Making Of, but otherwise I think this is a must-read for any comic fan. The story is good, but what makes it really essential is its bold, unique art style and its absolutely superlative formal qualities. In short, this comic looks totally unlike any else I've seen, and to me that's hugely exciting.
Reading The Making Of, it quickly becomes apparent that Evens's artwork isn't just nice to look at – it's also masterfully honed for visual storytelling. He understands that every visual element of a comic can serve a purpose and he exploits this to the fullest. Each character has a design and colour scheme that perfectly encapsulates its personality, and subtly morphs to reflect its mood in a given moment. Backgrounds, foregrounds, objects and characters fade in and out in line with their importance to what's happening. Appreciating that he's under no obligation to conform to any kind of realism, he employs perspectives that are physically impossible but that enable him to impart exactly what he wants to communicate. I've referred to David Mazzucchelli's Asterios Polyp as "a blueprint for how to tell stories in the comic medium". Well, Evens is one of the few people I've come across who seems to have seen the blueprint and put it into practice. That isn't to say Evens apes Mazzucchelli, but in his own unique way he uses the same fundamental formalist ideas.
Compared to the artwork, the story in The Making Of is quite conventional. The premise is a professional artist from Brussels participating in a small Flemish village's art festival, alongside a motley crew of enthusiastic locals. As might be expected, there's a degree of culture clash, with Evens parodying and critiquing both the pretentious urban artiste and the hapless country bumpkins. That said, despite some absurd oddball characters, the subject is addressed with a fair amount of nuance and intelligence, often playing with the reader's expectations, and ultimately avoiding excesses of either sentimentality or cynicism.
I know some people can't stand deeply flawed protagonists, especially when said protagonist neither sees the error of his ways nor gets his comeuppance. Such readers might do well to avoid The Making Of, but otherwise I think this is a must-read for any comic fan. The story is good, but what makes it really essential is its bold, unique art style and its absolutely superlative formal qualities. In short, this comic looks totally unlike any else I've seen, and to me that's hugely exciting.
July 31, 2017
no amount of watercolor magic is going to save your artist-is-a-bad-man-but-nobody-cares plot, I'M SO TIRED
July 29, 2020
Alweer mooi. Knappe tekenstijl, intrigerend verhaal en tegelijkertijd wat bevreemdend. Toch had ik het gevoel in zijn andere graphic novels meer meegesleept te worden door de personages.
December 10, 2024
Šios knygos reviews sukrenta į dvi kategorijas:
1) Labai labai gražiai nupiešta ir geras ironiškas žvilgsnis į meno pasaulio paniatkes;
2) Labai labai gražiai nupiešta, bet vėl ta pati istorija apie trisdešimtmetį vyrą, kuris bjauriai elgiasi ir nesulaukia jokių pasekmių.
Ir išties – pagrindinis personažas toks nevykėlis menininkas savimyla, jis atvyksta į provinciją ir ima išnaudoti savo kaip meno pranašo statusą. Istorija kaip ir neturi aiškios pabaigos ir tai labai erzina. Norisi, kad jis susilauktų pasekmių už savo elgesį ar bent jau pamatytume įvykį, kurio laukėme visą knygą. Iš "epiniu stiliumi" nupieštos istorijos ant viršelio atvartų spėju, kad autorius greičiau pašiepia pagrindinį personažą negu jį teisina, bet visgi kyla klausimas – kiek moralinė pozicija fikciniuose pasakojimuose turi būti aiški? Svarstau, ar grafiniams pasakojimams, kurie jau savaime turi daugiau įtaigumo, nekeliame kitokių standartų? Iš savo pačios patirties žinau, kad žmonės jautriau reaguoja į neigiamą (ar net neutralų!) personažų vaizdavimą komiksuose – šiaip tai mažiausiai turiu teisės pykti ant autoriaus už neaiškią pabaigą. Bet vis tiek kažkiek pikta! Nežinau.
Šiaip ar taip, visi sutinka, kad piešiniai itin gražūs – galima vien į juos ir žiūrėti, atrandant vis daugiau ir daugiau detalių.
1) Labai labai gražiai nupiešta ir geras ironiškas žvilgsnis į meno pasaulio paniatkes;
2) Labai labai gražiai nupiešta, bet vėl ta pati istorija apie trisdešimtmetį vyrą, kuris bjauriai elgiasi ir nesulaukia jokių pasekmių.
Ir išties – pagrindinis personažas toks nevykėlis menininkas savimyla, jis atvyksta į provinciją ir ima išnaudoti savo kaip meno pranašo statusą. Istorija kaip ir neturi aiškios pabaigos ir tai labai erzina. Norisi, kad jis susilauktų pasekmių už savo elgesį ar bent jau pamatytume įvykį, kurio laukėme visą knygą. Iš "epiniu stiliumi" nupieštos istorijos ant viršelio atvartų spėju, kad autorius greičiau pašiepia pagrindinį personažą negu jį teisina, bet visgi kyla klausimas – kiek moralinė pozicija fikciniuose pasakojimuose turi būti aiški? Svarstau, ar grafiniams pasakojimams, kurie jau savaime turi daugiau įtaigumo, nekeliame kitokių standartų? Iš savo pačios patirties žinau, kad žmonės jautriau reaguoja į neigiamą (ar net neutralų!) personažų vaizdavimą komiksuose – šiaip tai mažiausiai turiu teisės pykti ant autoriaus už neaiškią pabaigą. Bet vis tiek kažkiek pikta! Nežinau.
Šiaip ar taip, visi sutinka, kad piešiniai itin gražūs – galima vien į juos ir žiūrėti, atrandant vis daugiau ir daugiau detalių.
February 16, 2023
the art itself was amazing, i can’t imagine coming up with it, but some of the story was icky 3 also what was up with that ending? (tw: sex with a minor :/, also mistreatment of a mentally ill person)
ok i understand people are saying the main character is a douche but the story is self aware. (minor spoilers ahead)
that’s cool but he’s still sooo annoying… even if his project fails and it’s obvious that he’s awful and rude and disgusting, it doesn’t make the book any more pleasant to read. and that’s not an original message that we need to hear again, we all know this already
ok i understand people are saying the main character is a douche but the story is self aware. (minor spoilers ahead)
that’s cool but he’s still sooo annoying… even if his project fails and it’s obvious that he’s awful and rude and disgusting, it doesn’t make the book any more pleasant to read. and that’s not an original message that we need to hear again, we all know this already
March 22, 2018
Fun. Weeeeird characters. Subtle art history references that were like beautiful jewels scattered throughout the book. Astounding artwork, as one has come to expect of Evens. I enjoyed the imagery much more than the story.
December 17, 2015
incredibly beautiful artwork, simple strokes that really convey complex, varied characters
September 30, 2023
Nu weet ik weer waarom graphic novels niets voor mij zijn. Naast dat de illustraties wel mooi en origineel zijn, is het verhaal absurd, sexistisch en patriarchaal want het gaat over 6 à 7 (gefrustreerde) mannen en begod 1 meisje van 18. Ohja en het was met momenten serieus trippy.
June 8, 2024
Pieterjan is an independent artist trying to make it work in the city. His relationship seems to be falling apart, his work acquaintances flirt with his girlfriend in front of him and all he can think of is how much more successful they are in the art scene than him. That is, until he gets invited to a small town art festival by an old friend of his. Over there, he's the big shot, and that quickly gets to his head.
The Making Of is the stories of two cultures and classes coming to clash, and of an abusive personality creating havoc in a peaceful community. Pieterjan is a massive dickhead. He's manipulative and preoccupied by his so called art more than anyone else's wellbeing. He leaves only chaos and destruction behind, but somehow always passes as the good guy. He's exactly the kind of character Evens seems to like telling stories about.
As far as the art goes, I've kind of read his stuff in reverse-chronological order, and I can definitely his evolution. But it's doesn't make it any less stunning of a book. It's almost entirely deconstructed, mostly telling the story without panels. He seamlessly switches between more straightforward sequential storytelling and gorgeous full illustrative page, adapting his chameleonic art style to fit the mood of the story.
I don't think it wowed me quite as much as Panther or Jellyfish King, but it's certainly cemented Evens as one of my favorite contemporary authors
The Making Of is the stories of two cultures and classes coming to clash, and of an abusive personality creating havoc in a peaceful community. Pieterjan is a massive dickhead. He's manipulative and preoccupied by his so called art more than anyone else's wellbeing. He leaves only chaos and destruction behind, but somehow always passes as the good guy. He's exactly the kind of character Evens seems to like telling stories about.
As far as the art goes, I've kind of read his stuff in reverse-chronological order, and I can definitely his evolution. But it's doesn't make it any less stunning of a book. It's almost entirely deconstructed, mostly telling the story without panels. He seamlessly switches between more straightforward sequential storytelling and gorgeous full illustrative page, adapting his chameleonic art style to fit the mood of the story.
I don't think it wowed me quite as much as Panther or Jellyfish King, but it's certainly cemented Evens as one of my favorite contemporary authors
October 30, 2012
Wow! What a beautiful book! It has so much going for it. Evens' art is getting much deserved acclaim, his lovely water color storytelling feels extremely fresh - and unique. He has established a method of painting translucent characters and scenes that can add both depth of perception as well as emotion. In using this, Evens is able to fill a scene with a curious fullness. It's to his credit that he employs this artistic sensibility to it's best advantage and not overused. But,to try and describe it too much might do it a disservice.
I did find that, though I read many graphic novels, and can navigate myself quite well through most comic art storytelling, there were times when I had to slow down and take another look at what is happening on the page and in the scene. But it was a positive result. I loved the momentary mystery! It challenged my comic art apprehension...in an almost interactive(?) fashion. Reading along, I could suddenly feel like I've lost the narrative, only for it to - surprisingly, illuminate and enhance itself within a few panels or on the next page. Again, I feel that I don't want to describe it too much (oops, perhaps I already have), to chance spoiling a serendipitous experience for another reader.
You can read other reviews about the general story line, which in itself is somewhat intriguing. But it's the characters that play it out which brought this tale to life. And, when I think of the dialogue, again the word "fresh" comes to mind. In collaboration with the art, it is entirely inventive and becomes evocative in the most satisfying of ways. It has a quality of "playfulness" that is lost on many works today. A labor of love for sure.
For me, as a reader who mostly appreciates non-fiction graphic novels, to find such a gem in the fiction arena was such a pleasure. You deserve to enjoy this work also. And, the work is deserving of this 5 star review!
I did find that, though I read many graphic novels, and can navigate myself quite well through most comic art storytelling, there were times when I had to slow down and take another look at what is happening on the page and in the scene. But it was a positive result. I loved the momentary mystery! It challenged my comic art apprehension...in an almost interactive(?) fashion. Reading along, I could suddenly feel like I've lost the narrative, only for it to - surprisingly, illuminate and enhance itself within a few panels or on the next page. Again, I feel that I don't want to describe it too much (oops, perhaps I already have), to chance spoiling a serendipitous experience for another reader.
You can read other reviews about the general story line, which in itself is somewhat intriguing. But it's the characters that play it out which brought this tale to life. And, when I think of the dialogue, again the word "fresh" comes to mind. In collaboration with the art, it is entirely inventive and becomes evocative in the most satisfying of ways. It has a quality of "playfulness" that is lost on many works today. A labor of love for sure.
For me, as a reader who mostly appreciates non-fiction graphic novels, to find such a gem in the fiction arena was such a pleasure. You deserve to enjoy this work also. And, the work is deserving of this 5 star review!
December 16, 2015
The Making Of is Evans Brecht's ironic portrayal of the small arts and crafts world. Unfortunately, the satire is dull and the art too much of an acquired taste.
The plot is rather simple, but not enticing. The characters are also not inspiring. I found little reason to smile. The lead character, who as artist has the dubious credentials of having had art exposed in The Big City, is invited to a small commune of artists to join their biennale and help create a new work of (joint) art. After the initial exploration, it turns out he needs to take the lead, lest their project is a failure. In the spare moments of this saga, there is some pastel sex. The other characters are somewhat sketched, and look their cliche part: small town painters, living with their moms, unable to communicate, and incongruous to art. I disliked this take, which lacks psychological finesse and storyline.
The art is not for everyone, and surely not for me. The pastels and overimposed watercolor do well with character of the story, but the complexity of the occasional multi-focus renderings is not meaningful to the story and it also seems much too complex for it.
The plot is rather simple, but not enticing. The characters are also not inspiring. I found little reason to smile. The lead character, who as artist has the dubious credentials of having had art exposed in The Big City, is invited to a small commune of artists to join their biennale and help create a new work of (joint) art. After the initial exploration, it turns out he needs to take the lead, lest their project is a failure. In the spare moments of this saga, there is some pastel sex. The other characters are somewhat sketched, and look their cliche part: small town painters, living with their moms, unable to communicate, and incongruous to art. I disliked this take, which lacks psychological finesse and storyline.
The art is not for everyone, and surely not for me. The pastels and overimposed watercolor do well with character of the story, but the complexity of the occasional multi-focus renderings is not meaningful to the story and it also seems much too complex for it.
September 4, 2018
Tras Un lugar equivocado ya no hay sorpresa por su dibujo, pero sigue siendo una maravilla. Asímismo vuelve a narrarnos una historia donde, nuestra mente, se permite el lujo de reflexionar sobre soberbias, humildades, ilusión, demencias, enfoques variados para un suceso, de la mano de un grupo de personajes, artistas-seres humanos, que coinciden en un evento y aportan, cada uno, su singular bagaje.
Fantástico.
Fantástico.
January 27, 2014
I need to see the making of of 'The Making Of' because the artwork pickled my mind. No idea where he began on some of the paintings and spent most of my time trying to analyse each piece which usually led to confusion.
September 7, 2017
I enjoyed the art in this oddity more than the story, although both were pretty compelling to me.
August 23, 2019
Nice watercolours , bad writing from a tired pov
January 2, 2023
I really love his painting, but I wasn’t keen on the story: artist as a bumbling, arrogant, vile creep. Not that it isn’t sometimes true to life though…
May 19, 2024
De auteur schetst hier door middel van zijn fantastische tekenstijl een "biënnale" in een klein dorpje. De protagonist, een onaimabele kunstenaar (met grote K) komt terecht tussen de plaatselijke creatievelingen. De politieke spelletjes, geheimen, en seksuele spanning (met een minderjarige) op het festivalterrein bouwen zich op en dat cumuleert dan in een grand finale, een hilarische implosie en een parodie op de Kunstwereld (en de Polanski's) maar zonder dat morele vingertje. Ik zie dat mensen dit nodig hebben, ze voelen zich er slecht bij, ze houden niet van dit boek omdat er geen duidelijke veroordeling komt van zijn gedrag. Dat is nu eens de realiteit. Ze geraken daar ook mee weg, want "je moet de kunst van de kunstenaar scheiden", door hun machtspositie worden ze op hun piëdestal gehouden. De spiegel die voorgehouden wordt door Evens aan de Kunstwereld is hilarisch, het is slapstick, spannend, micropolitiek en echt zeer, zeer goed.
October 31, 2019
The art was wonderful. There were plenty of beautiful and somewhat surreal images done in a water color style.
The story though? In all honesty, it wasn't anything special. Just some unlikable guy that comes around a small town and messes up the seemingly peaceful dynamic they all once had. I didn't feel like the story was particularly innovative, and it felt even more bland in comparison to how cool the artwork was next to it. I'm glad I was able to thumb through these images, but the story fell flat for me personally.
The story though? In all honesty, it wasn't anything special. Just some unlikable guy that comes around a small town and messes up the seemingly peaceful dynamic they all once had. I didn't feel like the story was particularly innovative, and it felt even more bland in comparison to how cool the artwork was next to it. I'm glad I was able to thumb through these images, but the story fell flat for me personally.
May 3, 2021
Eerder 2,5/5.
Prachtige schilderstijl en leuk om Vlaamse dialoog te lezen, maar het bleef allemaal wat vaag voor mij, en het hoofdpersonage deed allemaal rare en foute dingen en er werd daar nooit op ingegaan...
Prachtige schilderstijl en leuk om Vlaamse dialoog te lezen, maar het bleef allemaal wat vaag voor mij, en het hoofdpersonage deed allemaal rare en foute dingen en er werd daar nooit op ingegaan...
August 31, 2022
3,5/5
January 20, 2023
A middling artist comes to a small village celebration. The art stands out more than the story, it’s such a beautiful graphic novel that really uses the graphics to tell the story. I’ll have to reconsider some of their other work
December 12, 2023
Малюнки приголомшливі, історія непогана.
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