Peter Beard Art Edition
A stunning journey into the world of Peter Beard
Limited to 2,250 individually numbered copies, each signed by Peter Beard.
Photographer, collector, diarist, and writer Peter Beard has fashioned his life into a work of art; the illustrated diaries he kept from a young age evolved into a serious career as an artist and earned him a central position in the international art world. He was painted by Francis Bacon, painted on by Salvador Dali, and made diaries with Andy Warhol; he toured with Truman Capote and the Rolling Stones, created books with Jacqueline Onassis and Mick Jagger - all of whom are brought to life, literally and figuratively, in his work. As a fashion photographer, he took Vogue stars like Veruschka to Africa and brought new ones - most notably Iman - back to the U.S. with him.
His love affair with natural history and wildlife, which informs most of his work, began when he was a teenager. Beard witnessed the dawn of Kenya`s population explosion, which challenged finite resources and stressed animal populations - including the starving elephants of Tsavo, dying by the tens of thousands in a wasteland of eaten trees. So he documented what he saw - with diaries, photographs, and collages.
Spilling out over the pages of this massive tome, Peter Beard`s collages are reproduced as a group for the first time at the size they have always meant to be seen, some as foldouts. Hundreds of smaller-scale works and diaries fill the remaining spreads - magnified to show every detail, from Beard`s meticulous handwriting and old-master-inspired drawings to stones and bones and bits of animals pasted to the page. This opulent and beautifully-crafted limited edition - complete with wooden stand - is a work of art in itself.
XXL-Format: 34.5 x 50 cm (13.4 x 19.7 in.)
Main book: 200 pages of diaries and 294 pages of collages + 5 fold-outs
Original essay by photo critic Owen Edwards
Companion volume: PB2 image index with captions for all images from main book, personal photos and early work of the artist, interview with the artist by Steven M. L. Aronson , a facsimile reprint of Beard`s 1993 handwritten essay from the sold-out first issue of Blind Spot magazine, extensive bibliography, and a list of exhibitions
All color illustrations are color-separated and reproduced in Pan4C, the finest reproduction technique available today.
Art Edition, No. 251 - 2500, limited to 2,250 individually numbered copies, each signed by Peter Beard. Comes in a clamshell box.
Long unavailable from Taschen, one pristine copy is for sale through Ariel at $8000 or nearest offer. Speak to Ben Winch at The Rocks, 02 9241 5622, arielrocks@idx.com.au
