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PRESS
RELEASE
FEBRUARY
4 - MARCH 15, 2003
RALPH
STEADMAN
WHO? ME! NO!! WHY NOT??
OPENING
RECEPTION:
TUESDAY | FEB.
4TH, 2003 |
6-8PM
In
conjunction with the publication of:
DOODAAA: The Balletic Art of Gavin Twinge
Book signing by Ralph Steadman (Bloomsbury,
2002)
Gallery@49 is pleased to announce the opening
of “Who? Me!! No!!! Why Not?”, an
exhibition of mixed media drawings, paintings
and sculptures by the renowned British illustrator
and writer, Ralph Steadman. The exhibition,
which marks Steadman’s first New York
showing since 1974, will include more than 30
of the original pen and ink, watercolor, and
collage drawings, photomontage and three-dimensional
assemblages in Steadman’s most recent
illustrated novel “Doodaaa, The Balletic
Art of Gavin Twinge” (Bloomsbury, November
2002).
Best
known for his biting political and social drawings
that skewered American culture in the 70’s,
Ralph Steadman began his career as a cartoonist
in the 1950’s. Through the years he branched
out into many other artistic fields. Working
with the American writer Hunter S. Thompson,
Steadman co-founded the movement known as GONZO
journalism, the definitive book of which is
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”.
He has illustrated more than 50 books, including
classics such as “Alice in Wonderland”,
“Treasure Island” and “Animal
Farm”. Recognized as a vivid and imaginative
writer in his own right, Steadman has also achieved
prominence as the author of numerous self-illustrated
books, including “I, Leonardo", “Sigmund
Freud” and “The Big I Am”.
“Who? Me!! No!!! Why Not?” is a
portal into DOODAAA, and following the novel’s
purpose as a parody of the art establishment,
the exhibition itself is filled with provocative
visual and verbal puns. The artist not only
challenges art conventions by presenting works
signed by the book’s main characters,
his alter egos Gavin Twinge and Ralphael Steed,
he also investigates the nature of art and the
viewers’ responses. Steadman’s style
is distinguished by satire, symbolism and spontaneity.
He is one of the few illustrators who have managed
to blur the division between “serious
art” and cartooning. As writer Will Self
has remarked, Steadman’s drawings “evoke
an entire universe of visual comprehension.The
Steadman line is instantly recognizable, a slashing,
excoriating spurting trajectory of delineation
that rampages across the page. It is the draughtsman’s
equivalent of a high-velocity rifle bullet,
and it hits its targets either messily, or precisely,
but always unerringly and invariably with extreme
prejudice” (New Statesman, 2001)
Gallery@49 is located at 322 West 49th Street
(between 8th and 9th Avenues). Gallery Hours
are Tuesday – Saturday 12- 6 pm. For additional
information or visual material please call (212)
767-0855 or e-mail: info@gallery49.com
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