Stefan Hertmans examines the controversial Belgian artist Jan Fabre through an intimate lens. The author traces Fabre's journey from his early days in Antwerp through his rise as a provocative theater director, visual artist, and writer. Hertmans reveals how Fabre's obsession with transformation and metamorphosis shaped his boundary-pushing performances and installations. The book delves into Fabre's creative process, his use of unconventional materials like beetle wings and blood, and his exploration of the human body as artistic medium. Hertmans presents both the brilliance and the darkness that define Fabre's work, showing how personal demons fuel artistic vision. The narrative offers readers an unvarnished portrait of a complex figure who challenges conventional notions of art and performance.
Genres: biography, art, contemporary, non-fiction
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: complex-character, unconventional-art
Setting: Antwerp
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
Hardcover