Book Review: "The Art of Luke Chueh"

- by Ninja Ross, 2 June 2012

Luke Chueh is an ex graphic designer and now a full-time super awesome artist living in L.A. You can see how this review is going already, right?

This art book appealed to pretty much every fan in my overcrowded mind. It appealed to the comic book fan, the unusual art fan, the horror fan, the cuddly bear fan (he doesn’t say much... he just sits there).

I opened the book and was immediately treated to a tale about Chueh surviving a drive by just before his show. He carried on with the show because he doesn’t take crap from no drive by. I’d have pooped my pants... Then I was treated to a book full of some of the nastiest, bloodiest, best art I’ve seen in a while.

The Art of Luke Chueh: Bearing the Unbearable

There is something in this book for everybody, even small children, even if you have to pay a little extra for therapy. This isn’t just funny paintings with some brutality thrown in, though. This is what "Happy Tree Friends" wishes it could be. It’s what I thought only artists like Jhonen Vasquez and Jamie Smart could offer. It’s art. It’s a serious expression of the artist’s feelings and thoughts, expressed through brutality and comedy using unique, memorable characters.

The art itself will stick in your mind. It’s simple and dark. It feels big and complex when it’s just a bear eating his own eyeball.

"Lollipopeye"

This book isn’t filled with pages full of narcissistic ramblings, either. It’s filled with art with the occasional written pieces by Luke himself and celebrity guests like Joel Madden. This is a perfect example of a perfect art book.

With some artists who use the same characters and styles, their work can become boring and predictable but the feeling and emotion that is effortlessly applied to Chueh’s art is incredible and rare. It will keep you looking for more. If you’re lucky, you’ll only develop a mild obsession with him and his work.

There are a few specific pieces I’d like to mention, though. I love every single one of them but there are a few that I love more than the rest.


Self-Portrait

This piece, on first glance, is just plain cool. Read into a bit and it’s obvious that Chueh is showing that he IS his own work. I’m not crazy, either, he backs this up by saying friends and girlfriends have called him "bear".

"Self-Portrait"

The Prisoner

This  one  is one  of  those  that sort  of made  my  robotic  heart  feel  emotions. It  went  away  pretty  fast, of course. But it obviously expresses Chueh’s previous reliance on drugs and his time in rehab which is a horrible, cold and, in a way, a very lonely experience.

"The Prisoner"

Possessed

A  simple  one. Deep  red  blood  covers  the  character’s sharp  claws. His  expression  says  “what  have I done?” without a single word uttered. Just a mischievous demon behind him. This simplicity alone is my favourite thing about this one.

"Possessed"

Appetite for Destruction

This bear’s stomach ATE his hands! That’s just plain cool. Plus, it shows how maybe he feels his own appetite destroys him. Maybe. That’s my take on it, anyway.

"Appetite for Destruction"

Impaled

The silhouette of Chueh’s rabbit character is impaled on a giant syringe. I’ve mentioned his history of drugs and rehab when I mentioned The Prisoner but, while that one showed his reliance on drugs and his feeling of imprisonment, this one shows how brutally drugs really affected him.

"Impaled"

Miscarriage

This one is both hilarious and a little bit disturbing. It shows a mother hen having dropped her egg, the contents splattered all over the floor. I laughed hard. And then I thought about it. Then I laughed some more but with a little bit of sadness. More laughter.

"The Miscarriage"

Shit Ball

Poop. POOP! This monkey has poop in his hand and he’s going to throw it! Oh and... I don’t know, there’s a metaphor in there somewhere. I’m distracted by poo, though. Perfect poop. Poooop...

"Shit Ball"

I just want to say something about the actual physical book, now. It’s heavy. Real heavy. And sexy! It feels like you’re holding something incredible. And that’s because you are and I think Titan Books deserve a congratulations for crafting a book worthy of the content.

All in all, this is a must for any lover of anything. Go get this book because you’ll only feel stupid for missing out on it.

Seriously. Go buy it. Stop looking at me, go buy the freaking book.


"The Art of Luke Chueh: Bearing the Unbearable" can be bought at the Titan Books website.
Also makes sure to check out Luke Chueh's official website to view more of his fantastic art.

Tagged: books, art, Reviews.

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