Art costs lives

Reviews of Confronting the Danger of Art

"This is a stark and original pamphlet of poems, both disturbing and amusing. The superb illustrations darkly complement and enhance the explosive impact of the poems." SPHINX REVIEW

“Think a Salad Fingers style doodle, matched with a satirical Banksy-esque dialogue ... this little book was the perfect length and provided an anti-reality for 20 pages and was a strange joy to read.” BRIG NEWSPAPER

“With striking images, and thought provoking messages, this pamphlet will take you five minutes to read, but weeks to consider.” CONCRETE NEWSPAPER

“The illustrations and poems work together seamlessly ... McLachlan and Cooper’s new age method of collaboration has been a success. The cryptic, earth tone illustrations play off of the cautionary poems impeccably.” THE FREDONIA LEADER

“The poems and delightfully strange and vivid artwork work in unison to deliver a coherent message ... Thought-provoking and genuinely funny.” XMEDIA

“Confronting the Danger of Art is one of the most original ideas that I’ve come across recently ...” STRUCTO MAGAZINE

“ ... a hilarious and searing look at the way people do sometimes treat the arts ... perfectly crafted and delightfully witty.” THE BOAR NEWSPAPER

“Phil Cooper’s ... simplistic comic strip style evokes suggestive moods in each panel ... As an artist, I find this booklet a reminder that art has no limitations.” THE TARTAN NEWSPAPER

“The beige and rust color scheme complement each other and provide a perfect backdrop for McLachlan's biting free verse.” THE DEPAULIA NEWSPAPER

“It is well constructed and Phil Cooper’s design complements the irony of Ian McLachlan’s poetry. It is a thought-provoking read.” THE BEAVER NEWSPAPER

Confronting the Danger of Art

Confronting the Danger of Art, a poetry pamphlet written by me and illustrated by Phil Cooper, is available to order from Sidekick Books today. It's styled like a government information booklet from the 70s/80s, such as the nuclear guide Protect and Survive, and envisages a society that has decided artistic expression is so dangerous it needs to be suppressed. The anti-art arguments employed in the first chapter of the book are based on those used by Plato in Boox X of The Republic. I thoroughly enjoyed writing it, maybe there's a career for me in propaganda, and Phil's artwork is witty and cool. More info at http://www.drfulminare.com/dangerofart.php

Sometimes The World Is Too Beautiful

Sometimes The World Is Too Beautiful follows the life of a Mississippi poet, from early mistakes (the hacking up of a turtle to make a comb for his mother) through to marriage, children, divorce, a love affair, and concluding with the death of his parents. Some mistakes are learned from - following his debacle with the turtle the poet develops a deep affinity with the natural world, often very beautifully expressed ("Yesterday, pruning azalea bushes, / A female cardinal let / Me look into her brown eyes"). Others, perhaps chiefly that most Luciferian of flaws, pride, persist, see him summoning monkey demons, or, lost in life's maze, shouting for a confrontation with the Minotaur that never comes. The writing is lucid, evocative of powerful emotion, often of an almost shockingly high standard. Though this book is perhaps especially for those who "... sense the dilemma of the rare, lost ones, / Who yet can't embrace any belief simply / To save themselves--", the quality of the poetry will speak to everyone.

Dr Faustus, White Bear, Kennington

My brother has a production of Dr Faustus running at the White Bear, Kennington from 27th Sept - 2nd Oct 2011. I created the flier for it with help from my doggie.

The Absinthe Room

It is the green hour when my love arrives;
shrugging off life's bristling threads,
her exquisite liquid nakedness,
she soothes my brow with sweet palms
chill as iced water, her visage
milky opalescence, la louche, where
wild scents bloom: crisp fennel;
rich anise; wormwood.

Do you sleep? I know the evening
and the metal dawn. I work with
absolute materials: everything
and nothing.

A dreaming drowned man,
my mistress, glacial sage,
of such delicate health
she must sleep behind
UV-proof glass.

Suddenly the window is white.
Too much sun; the rush that burns.
Her fading footsteps.

I know a pure, clear-headed love.

Confronting the Danger of Art

Introductory page from Confronting the Danger of Art, a pamphlet I've created with artist Phil Cooper for Sidekick Books.