This artists’ book presents a visual narrative surveying two of the artist’s formative exposures to mortality: a parable involving a deadly muscle car in Connecticut and an encounter with a frozen biped in an Ohio Mall. The project was inspired by Starr reaching the age at which his sister passed away from cancer. Grounded in the premise of palliative care, this work reflects on how facing mortality can help deepen appreciation of life’s transience. Starr approaches this subject with subtle deadpan humor and dramatic visuals created with spray paint, ink, and layered gampi paper—a peculiar approach developed during his years researching woodblock printing in Japan.
Tyler Starr received a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland and accidently earned a PhD in Studio Arts from the Tokyo University of Fine Arts. He was a Christiania Researcher in Residence, an OMI International Arts Center Resident, and a fellowship artist at the Kala Art Institute. His artist’s books are in the permanent collections at notable institutions including the Smithsonian American Art and Portrait Gallery Library, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, and the Spencer Collection of the New York Public Library. -Publisher
