"The Cabinet of Jan Å vankmajer" at Kunsthalle, Vienna

Posted in Cryptozoology, Curiosa & Forteana, Exhibitions / Openings / Signings, Historia & Memoria, Horror / Goth, Illustration, Moving Images by Suzanne on September 16th, 2011 | BBC Wikipedia

The Big Adventure Story Roman 4 by Jan Å vankmajer, 1997-98 - click to enlarge

The main - and sometimes only - reason why I think it's worth putting quite a lot of time, blood, sweat, tears into this blog is because I have a fantastic readership (yes, YOU!).

Just after I posted about the Quay Brothers and mentioned Jan Å vankmajer, long-time reader and supporter Kid37 alerted me to a vast Å vankmajer retrospective currently on display at the Kunsthalle Wien that's an absolute must-see if you're a Å vankmajarian.

Meat Love by Jan Å vankmajer, 1989

The great thing about The Cabinet of Jan Å vankmajer - The Pendulum, the Pit, and other Peculiarities is that not only films will be presented but also a comprehensive selection of his graphic and collaged works from different decades.

Ossuary by Jan Å vankmajer, 1970

Å vankmajer has always been the best commentator on his own work so let's have him explain what you're going to witness in Vienna:

“Whatever comes out of my subconscious I use it because I consider it to be the purest form; everything else in your conscious being has been influenced by reality, by art, by education, and by your upbringing, but the original experiences that exist within you are least corrupted of all experiences.”

Amen to that, amen. Details below.

On show: Sep 7 - Oct 2, 2011

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