What: “A view on the 9th Art, the art of graphic novels”
An exhibition of originals and rare limited editions comic books authors’ drawings
When: Opening reception Saturday 8th November 7 – 11pm.
Where: Damien B. Contemporary Art Center
282 NW 36th Street Miami Fl
Contact: damien@damienb.com
T/F: 305 573 4949
Damien B. Contemporary Art Center
Is very proud to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the International Miami Book Fair in collaboration with the francophone pavilion which this year’s theme is
“the comics galaxy”
“A view on the 9th Art, the art of graphic novels”
International exhibition dedicated to the Art of graphic novels, comic strip, book illustrations, animations, cartoons…
5 comic books authors will be showing originals and rare limited editions of drawings.
Mohamed Aouamri (France),
Alex Baladi (Belgium),
Regis Loisel (Canada),
Luc Nisset (France)
Yves Swolfs (Switzerland)
The 9th Art is the link between traditional literary narratives to a visual language of myth as seen in comic strips.
Once considered the lowest form of literature, denounced by parents, teachers and clergy for their corrupting on the minds and moral of youth, comics now command the attention of cultural critics and scholars of Art history
Comics and cartoons are an indelible fact of American Life and consequently of American Art, and are central to the postmodern sensibility.
In contemporary Art the influence of the comic book’s draftsmen, fabulous graphic artists and cartoonists is predominant. Taking an in-depth look at the current phenomenon of cartoon-referencing work, its connection to the Pop Art movement of the 1960s, when the artist as a reaction of Abstract Expressionism employed a common imagery found in comics strips, publicity, popular culture, consumer products, Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring cartoonist’s son, Andy Warhol, began appropriating comics iconography into their Art work, drawn to its mass appeal while using it to critique the commercial aspect of society. For the first time, huge canvas filled with images and text blown up from comic books where hung on gallery walls.
In today’ Art, cartoon imagery is ubiquitous the new generation of artists influenced by pop Art and raised on TV created and comic – infused Art the Street Art, Graffity,Urban Art, video and the social and cultural factors that have shaped our understanding of the comics as a form of popular communication receiving a warm embrace from the art public.
Damien B. Contemporary Art Center will present an exhibit introducing comics novel authors and emerging artists influenced by the 9th Art.
Exhibited Artist includes:
Mohamed Aouamri “La Quete de l’Oiseau du Temps”
Mr Mohamed Aouamri was born in Kabylia (Algeria) the 4th of march 1957. He studied drawing at the Art institute of Douai and later at the Art Institute of Reims, in France. He first worked for the French newspaper Pilote where he used to publish some wildlife gags. Then he started a career in the advertising environment as an independent drawer.
In 2008, he was president of the 13th disc and comics festival of Evian-les-Bain
Drawings of « Mortepierre » 2007 : Drawings of La Quête de l’oiseau du temps, tome 6, Le Grimoire des Dieux.
Award : TF1 award at the 9th festival of Angoulême (1982)
Alex Baladi “Frankenstein”
Born in Switzerland in 1969, Alex Baladi studied literature in Genève and cinema
In addition to his work in the comics field, Baladi’s paintings have been exhibited widely throughout Europe.
Régis Loisel “La Quete de l’Oiseau du Temps” “Peter Pan”
He is one of main and first French authors that worked in the fantasy genre since the 1970s. The style that Loisel used for his famous series ‘La Quete de l’Oiseau du Temps’ has become a standard for the European artists that work in this genre. In 1972, Loisel made his debut in the magazine Pieds Nickelés, while attending comics courses in Vincennes. From 1974, he was present in Mormoil and Pilote. In the following year, he joined Serge Le Tendre in the creation of a first version of ‘La Quête de l’Oiseau du Temps’ in Imagine. . In 2000, He has also cooperated on the Disney animation films ‘Mulan’ and ‘Atlantis’, as well as on Olivier Dahan’s ‘Petit Poucet’.
Awards
2003: nominated for the Audience Award at the Angoulême International Comics Festival
2006: Grand Prix de la ville d’Angoulême at the Angoulême International Comics Festival
2007: nominated for the Grand Prix, for best French language comic and for best artwork at the Prix Saint-Michel, Brussels.
Yves Swolfs
Yves Swolfs joins the Atelier R, prestigious graphic novel section of the Saint Luc Institute of Bruxelles. He publishes his first story in 1978. In may 1980, Yves Swolfs creates Durango, a Western style character inspired of Clint Eastwood. The cycle becomes a great success and is reprinted frequently. At the same time, he starts writing historic graphic novels cycles with Dampierre and Légende. Cycle”Durango” ( western) 13 tomes Cycle ” Le prince de la nuit” 6 tomes.He is also the author of very famous fantasy cycles like Vlad and Griffo.
Saturday November 8th 2008 7-11pm
Wynwood Gallery Night
Damien B. Contemporary Art Center
282 NW 36th street
305 573 4949
www.damienb.com