Biographies

Since I discovered the fantastic Genet biography as written by Edmund White in 1993, I have developed an interest for biographies in general. I find it the best way to learn a piece of history at the same time as you are discovering interesting facts from fascinating people. I just finished two of those lately. On one side a book actually relating the handful of facts we know about Shakespeare and elaborating about all what we do not know as cleverly researched by the ever captivating Bill Bryson. On the other side I came to learn a great deal about Charles Darwin from the inside since this book actually is an autobiography.

A Tree Frog Pretending To Be A Warlord Frog

My two favourite artists are Japanese. Takashi Murakami and Hisashi Tenmyouya. The former has been showing a lot of his work around galleries in Europe and the States and it is pretty easy and affordable to get hold of some of his merchandising like badges or mini characters for people like me who cannot afford original artworks. The latter is more difficult to get by. The last time I saw something from him was in Berlin at the Berlin-Tokyo exhibition over two years ago. Since then... nothing. I did not even succeed in getting hold of his last Artbook nor the DVD from the 'artists at work' series that is also currently showing at Shibuya Rise cinema in Tokyo. Does it mean that I will have to travel all the way up there? I am seriously considering it...

よしもと ばなな

I always had a soft spot for Japanese artists and writers. With Banana it all started some years back when I read 'Goodbye Tsugumi'. Since then I have never been disappointed. 'Kitchen' (her biggest success), 'Hardboiled & Hardluck', 'Asleep' and now 'Lizard', I just love all the universal short stories she describes, the way she brings the sentiments forward. Universal yet very Japanese. I know little about her but she seems to be a very down-to-earth person trying to avoid being overexposed despite her success. She has a few entries in English on her on-line journal (even though the last one dates back from the end of October 2007).

Bande Dessinée

I just finished this great little graphic novel from Rutu Modan and I felt like sharing my enthusiasm. The story is very fresh and captivating complemented by simple, precise and elegant drawings (or is it the reverse?). I believe it was the first international issue for this Israeli cartoonist. The story revolves around the main character, a taxi driver, in 'search' of his estranged father who may have been a victim of a suicide bombing... It is published by the ever consistent and quality Canadian editor Drawn and Quaterly. From the same house I also recommend the amazing works from Kevin Huizenga featuring his Bill Ganges creation and David B. who also happens to be one of the founders of the equally excellent French publisher L'Association (who first published Marjane Satrapi).