One thing that I haven’t talked about much in my blog is my love for outsider art. I love it because under the title of outsider you find the mentally ill, eccentric, and people that don’t quite fit in with “normal” society creating in a entirely unfiltered manner. As many of you know, the urge to create is pretty much a complusion for many of us. Consider then, what if you where an outsider – and for the most part unconcerned or even unaware of the happenings of the world, outside of your own?
Such is the case of Henry Darger. Darger was born in 1892 . In the 1930’s Darger moved into a apartment that for the next 40 years he would create The Realms of the Unreal and the Vivian Girls. The book, Henry Darger, Art and Selected Writings by Michael Bonesteel, contains Dargers biography and the discovery of his life’s work, and of course, his artwork and writings. I won’t go into to much detail about everything in this book, but the artwork is weird, beautiful and unsettling.
p.s. – One disturbing thing in this book is that the little girls have penises. It is thought that he had no knowledge of the female anatomy.
Henry Darger
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Spangled Blengins, Boy King Islands. One is a young Tuskorhorian, the other a human headed Dortherean
By Henry Darger
Collage, Carbon Tracing, Pencil and Watercolor
In “In the Realms of the Unreal” they do such an amazing job of making Darger’s work come to life. At first I was put off by the way Darger was — he seemed just straight out mentally ill. But as the movie went on, I realized that he was genius and I felt a little sad about him. The more I’ve learned about Darger, the more he’s become one of my favorite artists…thanks for sharing this post.
And if he did have a mental illness … so what? It’s comments such as yours that continue stigmatizing people who are unfortunate enough to be born with mental illness. We all have flaws … some are biological, genetic … some just are. No one has the right to judge another based on their own personal biases. I’ve found in my many years as a psychiatric nurse that often those who torment truly need to take a long and honest look in the mirror … just sayin’ ….
As far as Darger’s artwork goes … I find it enlightening, innocent, unique. It’s sad to me that his art wasn’t exposed before he left this plane …
I have that book, too, and really enjoy it. I just found your blog through Early Bird Special, and look forward to reading past posts!
I recently saw the documentary about Mr. Darger and his amazing life and work. A friend of mine got to see his work in person and was amazed at the enormous size of many of his pieces. Definitely one of my favorite artists.
Are you familiar at all with the works of the late Elizabeth Layton? Another fascinating person and one of my favorites as well. Here is a link to her work:
http://www.elizabethlayton.com/
I also find outside art intriguing. I haven’t heard of this artist before, but i like the piece here so much I am going to check out more of him.
I have the documentary about him in my netflix cue. His story definitely intrigues me. I’ll have to check out the book!
If you listen to BBC i-player in the next days – there is a radio play on based on Henry Darger’s writings. I have not yet listened to it (it will vanish from the website on Sunday) – it might be mighty fine or dreadful…..
and also, dear badbird I bought 2 of your patterns today and shall await them eagerly.
i love everything about his work. a bit unsetting, yet childishly innocent. i actually used one of his picture books as my wedding sign in book! not sure what people thought of the art, but i love it. now all i have to do is buy a 2nd copy of the book so i have a clean one.
I am doing a art piece on Henry Darger. The person who interested me the most was Elsie Paroubek. I’ve looked into her life and her burial spot and am happy to know a little more about her.