And Acquaintances Recall Their Dealings with The
REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL: THE LIFE AND WORK OF BARNEY BUBBLES by paul gorman Book reviewed by Andy Martin 2 4 1 In 1974, forsaking the wisdom with finesse and melon twisting and acquaintances recall their early ‘impersonators’ (some of of my art college tutors in favour packaging concepts. And for me, dealings with the man, sometimes whom ‘fess up’ in the book) went of long afternoons in the library, there lies Barney Bubbles’ secret, with great poignancy, such as ex- on to define the subsequent I stumbled upon the works of namely his ability to look Stiff Records’ staffer Susan Spiro cultural period, and all of them Eduardo Paolozzi, Constructivism, backwards and forwards at the recalling Bubbles’ ability (me included) owe this man a Krazy Kat, and a strange volume same time, whilst always to see the beauty in everyday huge debt. by Charles Jenks, Adhocism – managing to arrive at The Very objects. There is ample evidence This book is a treasure trove The Case for Improvisation. Point of Now-ness. also that alongside his own for image-makers across all Within a couple of years I noticed As it progresses, the book image-making he was no slouch media, and a reminder that the a similar admix of ideas gives us epoch-defining glimpses when it came to art direction, graphic bombs Barney Bubbles appearing in the work of one of a shuddering cultural drawing on the talents of some dropped are still reverberating. man, but due to his reluctance landscape, clouds of patchouli of the most forward thinking In the words of the late great to credit his artworks, time would oil fade and a new world forms, photographers of the era, Brian Ian Dury: there ain’t half been have to pass before the author’s accompanied by the distinct whiff Griffin and Chris Gabrin amongst some clever bastards.
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