Alexander Heir: Warrr2k book

Description

WARRR2K//WORK 2015-17showcases all of Alexander Heir’s visual work created since the release of 2014’s highly successful Death Is Not the End,in addition to a new full-color series exclusive to this volume. Each book comes with a sheet of die-cut stickers designed by the artist.

“The breadth of detail and craftsmanship in every splash of ink feels at once tailor-made only for underground eyes and completely necessary as a time capsule of this moment in DIY culture.” The Fader

Commission clients and supporters include: The Mob, Martin Rev of Suicide, Warthog, John Carpenter, It Follows, and members of Three Six Mafia, Fucked Up, and Odd Future.

Our take: Second collection of Alex Heirs artwork on Sacred Bones Books. I must admit, while Ive always been a fan of Alex Heirs artwork I didnt expect to be as blown away by this collection as I am. While I can see the influence of other punk/underground artists(particularly Pettibon and Sakevi), pouring over four years of Heirs work helps me to understand how he has developed his own aesthetic (or, more accurately, aesthetics). Theres a broad array of styles, themes, and tropes at play in this book, like his adaptation of imagery from Japanese ukiyo-e prints, his more graphic / cyberpunk kind of stuff, and his enigmatic and intriguing use of text. More than just noticing these patterns, though, what strikes me about Warrr2k is how transgressive and underground it is. Being a 38-year-old man I rarely get that feeling like Im experiencing something I shouldnt be, like a little kid sneaking one of his parents cigarettes or passing around a pilfered porn mag (which I guess is something that doesnt happen anymore in the post-internet world). Heirs work has that qualityof seediness and subversion because hes giving us the real shit, cutting right to the psychological quick. A lot of times it’scliche when artists use the kinds of imagery that Heir trades in (particularly graphic violence), but Heir isnt just reshuffling familiar cliches. When I see slogans like POWER THROUGH VIOLENCE. THEY HATE YOU paired with one of his confrontationally graphic designs, I get this little twinge like a kid caught with my hand in the cookie jar, because these are thoughts and feelings that society teaches us to suppress. However, Heir dives head-first into these ideas, resurfacing to show us what hes found through his artwork. This book reproduces Heir’s workin beautiful full color (this isnt a dinky zine but a proper, square-bound art book) and theres a ton of work here, much of which you wont have seen even if you follow Heir. Ill be filing this on my bookshelf next to classics like Fucked Up and Photocopied and Fuck You Heroes, art books I flip through whenever I need a reminder of how artistically and intellectually vibrant punk rock culture can be.