Antony and the Johnsons: Swanlight

by Antony and the Johnsons

Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song , Antony of Antony and the Johnsons pres­ents his debut collection of visual art, thought-provoking dreamscapes composed of paintings, drawings, photogra­phy, collage, song lyrics, and writings. Often fragmentary images, these pieces capture liminal states and elements of the unconscious. Some images are reclaimed and reconfigured in order to transcend their previous form. The intersecting mediums inform each other and create an interesting dialogue with Antony’s music, his creative muse, and personal mythology.<!--?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /-->



 



Fans and collectors will relish this lavishly produced volume, which includes Antony’s newest full-length CD Swanlights, and reveals the creative process of one of the world’s most gifted artists.
 

Genres: Art, Music, Nonfiction

136 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Etain]

ANOHNI is the most affecting artists I've ever come across. I've never felt how I felt when hearing or songs or looking through her art. Her music sent emotions directly to my heart and turned my stomach. This book feels as if it's full of mold, the earth is dead and rotting and this book is flowers blooming from the fertilizer. The fact that it's ten years old makes it feel even more mold-like.
I cut my hand on a jagged piece of metal right after I finished this book. It feels related in some way as if her art cut me. As if the world cut me and my transgender blood is dripping into its soil and water and turning the ice red. Bleeding for the earth.

[Jennie]

Ummm. Hmmmmmm. Ah, yeah.

CD included that couldn't bring myself to listen to. I like to think that I can appreciate art but this book feels void, lost and amateur. Pictures slapped over with paint, photographs cut up, black permanent marker on newspaper classifieds, no real direction. Last ditch effort, no passion, no emotion here. Made me feel ripped off by the title. "Swanlight" sounds inspiring, bright with a hint of love.

Maybe that's the point? Je ne sais pas.

Like looking through someone's reject bin.

[Anna]

Would've given this beautifully-produced collection of art and poetry a 5-star rating if not for one thing: most of the handwritten text/poetry is completely unreadable! I have no doubt that Antony's poetry is as gorgeous as his lyrics, but it would have been nice to be able to READ the snippets of poetry here.

[Rowena]

I wish Antony's handwriting was more legible. Could make out bits and pieces but it meant there was no flow to it.

I also wish I had read Wild Life and Drawing Voices first, as I may have understood and appreciated the art a little more.

Nice little book for the coffee table but don't think I would recommend it. But, I'm no artist; maybe I missed something.

[Brandon Isaacson]

Very interesting and beautiful. Certain pieces are better than others (in my opinion of course), that's why I did a 4 (instead of 5). He has a beautiful piece of writing at the end called Wild Life.