(Chemistry)
I had to take a break from the classics to share the fantastic creative work of photographer/artist Thomas Allen. Valentines Day, with its lurid reds and pinks, has always been a bit burlesque to me as an adult so it seemed fitting for the Friday Favorite of Valentine’s week to involve the melodramatic, sensationistic art of pulp fiction books.
(Fancy)
Thomas Allen is a recent discovery, made pouring over the archives of Irene Gallo’s blog. Mary was sitting with me when I first linked over to the Folley Gallery site to view his work. We both alternatively laughed and sat in awe of his creativity.
(Breathtaking)
According to Art on Paper magazine, Thomas Allen took his inspiration from childhood. “I loved pop-up books,” says Allen. “I still do. I used to make dioramas in shoe boxes, too. I just loved the way you could feel as if you were in it by putting your face up close. It’s about making and experiencing alternative realities.”
(Fury)
Using an X-acto knife to delicately cut out parts of the paperback, Allen arranges the books in ways that will tell a story. Sometimes the story was obvious from the start and sometimes the results are unexpected.
(Distraction)
I love the obvious sense of humor shown in some of these images. Especially in the ‘male lust’ images like Distraction above and Mate below. Though this may or may not have been the original artist’s intention with the various book covers it does go to show how much context can shape the meaning of an image.
(Mate)
It is a bit of an understatement to say that I love Thomas Allen’s work. Photography has been an oft neglected interest of mine since taking classes in high school and it should be no secret to those who have been visiting Droppings for awhile that I really like pulp fiction art (Remember the Robert McGinnis post? That’s the one where Jules coined the phrase ‘retro sexy’).
(Fathom)
The way that Thomas Allen combines these two is brilliant. His creativity is motivated by a sense of wonder and fun that can be seen in each piece.
(Loaded)
His many western photographs have a sense of menace to them. They are all arranged and shot so dramatically.
(Recoil)
Isn’t that one marvelously creative? You can almost hear the gunshot ringing in your ears.
(Stranger)
I really enjoy Allen’s use of the paper edges of books to help set the scene in some of his works, like Stranger above, and the use of the blue edges in the previously shown picture, Fathom.
(Viewfinder)
In many of the photographs the book covers help tell the tale. Dark Hunger in the above picture explains it all.
(Uncovered)
Thomas Allen’s use of lighting and focus do as much to give depth and feeling to his scenes as does the placement of the various books.
(Thirst)
The placement does play an important part as well. I like how the lady in Thirst is reaching out her glass for a refill from the bottle of the man in the other book.
(Knockout)
I don’t remember the title but I believe I have a postcard in my collection with the image of the girl in the background in Knockout.
(Teeter)
Teeter has a real Vertigo feel to it, doesn’t it?
I hope you enjoyed today’s Friday Favorite eventhough it caused me to veer slightly off of my February plans. If, like me, you shared Thomas Allen’s love for pop-up books and for dioramas (we made some in elementary school and I really enjoyed it…in fact I did some of the other kids’ assignments for them. Naughty, naughty!) as a child…heck I would love to make a diorama today as an adult!….then I have no doubt that you found these fun and nostalgia-inducing. I post the last image on purpose as a not-so-subtle nod to all of you book lovers out there whose to-read piles are threatening to overwhelm you. Have a great weekend everyone!
(Topple)
To view more of Thomas Allen’s wonderful works, visit these sites:
Art on Paper
Thomas Barry
Joseph Bellows Gallery
Foley Gallery
Love pop up books and love this original take on them!
No… He destroyed books to do this “art”?!
Ack!
These were really great. I liked them more and more with each one I saw. Very inspiring.
I know, the book destruction ‘almost’ gets to me put from the look of it he used really batttered copies of these old pulp books.
I have to admit. Wow. What interesting art. I’m always amazed with what people come up with that never would have crossed my mind to create. I’m with Angela though. The part of me that’s a book lover cringes at the destroyed books that went into making this art. The results are so cool though that in case I think it’s worth it. Everyone enjoy your weekend from me as well. 🙂
With my collecting of McGinnis covers I have come across many smokey, stinky, too-well-worn books that honestly should either be thrown away or used for something like this.
Ok, yes, it sucks to cut books up…but…but, but! So cool! So pulptacular!
oooo…another new vocab word!!!
Now, that was cool. There is nothing like a little pulp, a little noir, to start one’s day. I think I’ll will visit one of the sites you mentioned. Oh, and I think that the obvious male erotic images were to be taken as intended. Envelope, be damned!
This is pretty awesome, Carl V. I especially like the 4th picture (where one lady is slapping the other). I wonder what this says about me? 😉
Cameron!!!! Missed visiting with you and the guys at the shop Wed. I think I’m finally kicking this thing so I’ll be able to catch up next week.
I’ll try not to do a deep psychological study on you Amelia! 😉
that is so incredibly clever…!
I’ve “recycled” pulp covers to make my own journals but obviously nothing like this. Such fantastic work. I used think of each book as sacred but in the past few years as I’ve explored more of the altered book world and bookbinding I’ve let go of that. Now, I feel like it’s a chance at giving old books a new life 🙂
Wow! I coined a phrase. I had no idea.
Lydia likes making pop-ups.
This is an interesting idea. Great photography.
Another cool post! Keep up the great work, Carl.
What a unique idea. I love the noir, 40’s feel . I was recently in a used bookstore, looking for Ian Fleming. They had two, but they were so filthy and battered I didn’t get them. They could have easily been used for this type of art. I wonder if I’m a book purist, but onlly if they’re relatively clean?
I’m glad you were well enough to do a blog. That’s an awful flu going around. Hope you’re feeling well.
Hello,
That has to be the most impressive and insightful review of my work that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. If you were here right now I’d hug you!!! Thank you so much for your wonderful words. I love what I do and have been enjoying the comments. My monograph, enttitled UNCOVERED is being released this fall by Aperture. If you need a reason to go to NY for a party, this will be a good one. I would like to send you a catalog from the current show of new work (by the way, the suggestive male imagery , like most of the others is meant to be funny. You should hear me laugh when I’m making these sometimes!). Please email me you mailing address. If Irene is in your town, I will send 2 (I commented on her site before as well). Just don’t try and keep both for yourself! Have a good afternoon and thanks again,
Tom Allen
Wow, thanks Mr. Allen. I am really glad you enjoyed the work. I am excited that you are having a book published, I will definitely be picking it up! I hope you continue doing more in the future. It is such a fun use of wonderful, nostalgic pulp fiction. I will email you my address. I live in Kansas City, not NY, but have a very close friend who lives there so that might be a fantastic excuse to drop in on him!
I think everyone that said these books were use improperly to create this “art” is wrong. There are probably many copies of those books out there, but only one person who actually made something different of it.