Warhol Live

Category: Books,Arts & Photography,History & Criticism

Warhol Live Details

This catalog accompanying an exciting new exhibition revealsthe myriad ways Warhol immersed himself in the music of histime. Tracing back to Warhol s introduction to music throughthe musical comedies, songs, and soundtracks of his youth,the book opens with Warhol s portraits of the great films starsof his childhood. As the fascinating essays collected in thisvolume discuss, Warhol s renowned portraits of pop musicicons such as Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry, and Grace Jonesare just one manifestation of his interest in music. Warholcollaborated with choreographer Merce Cunningham, servedas producer for the Velvet Underground, incorporated musicinto his films, produced video-clips, designed dozens of recordalbums, filmed live concerts, and created multimedia spectacles.Although never a musician himself, Warhol appropriated theimagery of a pop icon for some of his most arresting andhaunting self portraits. Designed to echo the music industry smost recognizable emblem the album cover this dynamicbook includes more than 350 illustrations, offering a refreshingnew way to appreciate the talent and evolution of an artistwho mirrored society s ever-changing tastes and interests. Read more

Reviews

Yes! I want Andy Warhol Giant-Sized, but this is probably the next best thing! A great big book, covered in silver mylar - 10x10, it's also too heavy to lug around. Yet I was thrilled to find something with LARGE LUSH PRINTS of Andy's work. The author gives a full and thorough background on Andy's involvement in the commercial element of illustrating for the music industry. It's all very good. The best part is, of course, the paintings and prints!Scaling through Warhol at bookstores and libraries may only give you poor copies of these same images... Which is not how they were meant to be seen. To really appreciate the graphic color and idiosyncrasy of Warhol's work, it has to be BIG. The multiple images of Elvis are like a multiple... (YOU know!)Warhol was such a versatile creator! It's amazing to see the shifts he discovered here, working through his different styles of presentation. This book shows him at the height of his fun... Working with celebrities in the music business, how his own business evolved from doing simple line drawings for albums in the 50's, to the silkscreens of Judy Garland and Liza Minelli; a full chapter on his sponsoring of the Velvet Underground, and on to individuals (Michael Jackson and Prince) and groups like the Rolling Stones.Hmmm... I'm disappointed to think somehow Jim Morrison and David Bowie were overlooked by Warhol. I don't understand how that happened. Here you will see lots of photos of Jagger feigning to be Morrison; ironic. Something comes through in the paintings of Jagger, using the same familiar poses we know from Morrison's photos... Only there is something not-so-sexy here. Jagger comes across as looking almost desperate, somewhat menacing and manipulative. Morrison would have been a much better subject by far! But that is by no means the fault of the artist! I think Warhol captured Jagger's soul, and seeing his paintings cannot help one from making these contrasts.This book also includes cover illustrations for Andy's magazine, INTERVIEW. These are also dazzling - duo images of Debbie Harry, the way the colors are layered in the many various double portraits are both breathtaking and polarizing. The cover paintings (rarely seen) of adorable Michael Jackson in a suit, a mystical jewel-clad Cyndi Lauper... Plus, Warhol managed to capture Madonna's real personality in 1985. Yes, in real life her eyes are GREEN. And here she looks very Wicked - like the "Wicked" Wicked Witch - with swooping purple eyebrows and a big mole under her snooty nose.Amazing to say the least!

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