Brian BLOMERTH Mycelium Wassonii

Mycelium Wassonii is Brian Blomerth?s second graphic novel and his first to be translated into French (published by Éditions Rackham)

Behind the vibrant colours bursting from the pages of this book lie American artist Brian Blomerth?s clean, regular drawings executed in black Rotring pen on Bristol vellum paper ? a combination of straight lines, sweeping curves and neat outlines that can be traced back to the ligne claire movement. Blomerth?s cleanly drawn lines, in a formal, geometric and architectural style, are coupled with an abundance of natural details that are like so many little shadow zones ? for it is in such zones that mushrooms grow. And ? whether by coincidence or design ? Blomerth?s original drawings for Mycelium Wassonii are being shown for the first time in the context of Huberty & Breyne?s ?Mycelium Programme?. The exhibition, at the gallery?s Paris | Chapon venue, is due to run from 23 March to 27 April.

After studying painting at Virginia Commonwealth University, Brian Blomerth decided to focus exclusively on drawing. Author, illustrator and musician, a multi-talented exponent of the American underground scene, Blomerth applies his art across different media, using a range of supports and allowing himself free rein in terms of both form and content, whether working on zines, album covers, t-shirts or comics.

In 2019, at a time when research into the therapeutic potential of psychotropic drugs was starting to gain ground, Blomerth seized on the topic in his first full-length story, Brian Blomerth?s Bicycle Day (Anthology Editions), which recounts the first acid trip experienced by the Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman, in 1943. Using psychedelic motifs and fluorescent Pantone colours, Blomerth explores the vivid mind-expanding visions experienced by a hybrid creature, a human with a dog?s head (or vice versa), a kind of Pluto figure escaped from a gentle Disney film and swept up in a world of powerful hallucinations. Two years later, we find in Mycelium Wassonii the same loose-limbed zoomorphic creatures beloved by the artist. Inspired by traditional animated cartoons and the American underground comics of Robert Crumb and Gilbert Shelton, these figures appear timeless. Despite the absence of all but minimal features ? two little black balls for eyes, a nose and the tip of a tongue ? Blomerth succeeds in giving each of his characters real expressiveness and personality.

OPENING
Friday 22 March 2024 at 6.00 pm
in the presence of the artist

RECEPTION/ BOOK SIGNING
Saturday 23 March 2024 at 4.00 pm

EXHIBITION
From 23 March to 27 April 2024

PARIS | Chapon
19 - 21 Rue Chapon 75003 Paris
Wednesday > Saturday 1.30 pm ? 7.00 pm