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Glenn Brown
One of the most admired painters of his generation, Glenn Brown (b. 1966) borrows from art history and popular culture to investigate the languages of painting. Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2000, Brown is fascinated by how reproductions of paintings distort the qualities of the originals. The most thorough investigation of the artist’s work in print, this book features contributions by leading international critics and over 70 paintings, sculptures and previously unpublished new works, including spectacular gatefold illustrations.Working from books or projecting reproductions onto a blank surface, Brown transforms familiar images into alien ones by making changes in size, color, surface texture, and brushwork. Culling source material from Dalí, Rembrandt, Auerbach and others, Brown’s playful technique juxtaposes elements of kitsch and the sublime. Published to accompanying a major, touring retrospective exhibition, Glenn Brown is the premier testament to a sensational body of work.
Paperback
First published February 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 17, 2015
Along with 'Three Exhibitions', Glenn Brown's mid-career retrospective monograph published by 'Rizzoli', this book released by Tate is the best way to experience the artists' distorted 'trompe l'oeil' visions of art history. His technical mastery of oil painting is apparent in the generous selection of details, where Brown uses micro-fine brushes to create the illusion of thick impasto strokes, re-creating works by Neo-Expressionists like Baselitz; he just as deftly mimics the slick execution of Dali, or the rough romantic grandeur of John 'Apocalypse' Martin. What all his works share is their perfect flatness, for one; gallery patrons mistake his paintings for print reproductions, an impression he strives for. Their origins are the same as well, beginning as art-book images and .jpeg's of classic paintings, which are then scanned or copied to Photoshop. It is there that he digitally manipulates the image. This becomes a rough guide used in the painting. His reliance on print and digital media is part of the reason behind the painstaking effort he expends on creating a smooth finished surface.
The essays provide critical interpretations, as well as the perspective of Brown's friend and fellow artist, who shared a studio with him in the years before he had achieved widespread success and recognition. A lengthy interview with the artist is also included.
This is a beautifully produced volume, printed on very high-quality paper. At 150 pages, it's about the same length as the Rizzoli book, and is only half the price. It also features over a dozen gatefolds, allowing his biggest paintings to be reproduced at a much larger size, something publishers and book-designers should use more often. An excellent showcase for Brown's art, at a very reasonable price.
P.S. Unfortunately, the prices have hit insane levels; it's a beautiful book, but WTF? As an alternative, the Rizzoli/Gagosian Gallery hardcover Glenn Brown: Three Exhibitions (mentioned above), now seems like a very good alternative. It's one of my favorite monographs, a truly deluxe edition that is worth the price; I'd suggest grabbing a copy quick, because once the distributors run out, marketplace sellers will once again send prices skyrocketing. Another good choice is Glenn Brown, published by Holzwarth. This is the hardcover monograph accompanying one of his most recent exhibitions at the Max Hetzler Gallery in Germany. A large, nearly square format of 12" x 13" that seems slim at it's listed length of 56 pages is in reality closer to 130 pages, with a wealth of tipped-in-full-color gatefolds, providing a larger venue for his newest, stunning works. It also includes an appendix with hi-res reproductions of his earlier works, something I wish more Exhibition catalogs would include. Both books have limiter print runs, so again, if you are a fan of Brown's work and see any of these books priced reasonably, buy them.
The essays provide critical interpretations, as well as the perspective of Brown's friend and fellow artist, who shared a studio with him in the years before he had achieved widespread success and recognition. A lengthy interview with the artist is also included.
This is a beautifully produced volume, printed on very high-quality paper. At 150 pages, it's about the same length as the Rizzoli book, and is only half the price. It also features over a dozen gatefolds, allowing his biggest paintings to be reproduced at a much larger size, something publishers and book-designers should use more often. An excellent showcase for Brown's art, at a very reasonable price.
P.S. Unfortunately, the prices have hit insane levels; it's a beautiful book, but WTF? As an alternative, the Rizzoli/Gagosian Gallery hardcover Glenn Brown: Three Exhibitions (mentioned above), now seems like a very good alternative. It's one of my favorite monographs, a truly deluxe edition that is worth the price; I'd suggest grabbing a copy quick, because once the distributors run out, marketplace sellers will once again send prices skyrocketing. Another good choice is Glenn Brown, published by Holzwarth. This is the hardcover monograph accompanying one of his most recent exhibitions at the Max Hetzler Gallery in Germany. A large, nearly square format of 12" x 13" that seems slim at it's listed length of 56 pages is in reality closer to 130 pages, with a wealth of tipped-in-full-color gatefolds, providing a larger venue for his newest, stunning works. It also includes an appendix with hi-res reproductions of his earlier works, something I wish more Exhibition catalogs would include. Both books have limiter print runs, so again, if you are a fan of Brown's work and see any of these books priced reasonably, buy them.
November 4, 2009
Although this monograph was filled with "art essays" that made me feel like such an outsider, the work is so beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews