"What it is" by Lynda Barry is astounding.
J came home with a book from the library the other day. I am riveted.
It is called What it is by Lynda Barry (NPR did a story on it in 2008). I don't actually know what to call this book. Beautiful? Not sure that is quite the word for it.
It is definitely an exploration of some pretty heavy ideas like "what is an image?" "What is an imaginary friend, and are there imaginary enemies?" "Can you remember something you cannot imagine?" In parts a philosophical exploration, in parts a biography/memoir of her development as an artist/comic artist. No research and lots of vignettes. The questions she raises and the ideas she puts forth definitely hold my attention. I find myself coming back to them later in the day (or on other days).
But the thing that really blows me away is the way the book is done. It is in parts collage, in parts doodles, in parts comics, in parts paintings, in parts text. Even then the text is used as a visual point as well as a verbal point. There are so many layers to this book. I find myself wanting to first just look through all the pictures. The pictures tell one story. Occassionally, my eyes are drawn to the text. Sometimes I try to make connections between the text and the pictures but not always. The words seem to tell a slightly different story from the visuals. The result is this really thick rich experience, like going through the layers of sandstone. Each layer contains information about a world that was complete and only existed in that time (in that layer).
Looking at the book evokes these sensations I do not yet know how to describe- a sense of electricity but odd calmness too. Is this what being on the edge of thrilling feels like? Kind of like the feeling before the thunderstorm at night? It also calls up these feelings of longing to participate. To immerse myself in this world of drawing, writing, creating so much that I want to be a part of it too.
That is a great piece of art. I hope you will check out this book for yourself.
It is called What it is by Lynda Barry (NPR did a story on it in 2008). I don't actually know what to call this book. Beautiful? Not sure that is quite the word for it.
It is definitely an exploration of some pretty heavy ideas like "what is an image?" "What is an imaginary friend, and are there imaginary enemies?" "Can you remember something you cannot imagine?" In parts a philosophical exploration, in parts a biography/memoir of her development as an artist/comic artist. No research and lots of vignettes. The questions she raises and the ideas she puts forth definitely hold my attention. I find myself coming back to them later in the day (or on other days).
But the thing that really blows me away is the way the book is done. It is in parts collage, in parts doodles, in parts comics, in parts paintings, in parts text. Even then the text is used as a visual point as well as a verbal point. There are so many layers to this book. I find myself wanting to first just look through all the pictures. The pictures tell one story. Occassionally, my eyes are drawn to the text. Sometimes I try to make connections between the text and the pictures but not always. The words seem to tell a slightly different story from the visuals. The result is this really thick rich experience, like going through the layers of sandstone. Each layer contains information about a world that was complete and only existed in that time (in that layer).
Looking at the book evokes these sensations I do not yet know how to describe- a sense of electricity but odd calmness too. Is this what being on the edge of thrilling feels like? Kind of like the feeling before the thunderstorm at night? It also calls up these feelings of longing to participate. To immerse myself in this world of drawing, writing, creating so much that I want to be a part of it too.
That is a great piece of art. I hope you will check out this book for yourself.
posted by Matty Lau at
9:22 AM
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