Description

Robert Lenkiewicz: Paintings and Projects, Hardcover

By Francis Mallett (Author, Editor), Derek Harris (Illustrator)

“The definitive monograph on the life and paintings of Robert Lenkiewicz.”

An illustrated text by Francis Mallett explores the motivation behind Lenkiewicz’s method of presenting large-scale ‘Projects’ on social issues: paintings and research notes on themes such as Vagrancy (1973), Mental Handicap (1976), Old Age (1979), Suicide (1980), and Death (1982), aimed at raising awareness of shunned sections of the community.

The text also elucidates the artist’s thinking on fanaticism and addictive behaviour. Drawing on his personal observations and research into fanatical belief systems (such as the 17th century witch hunting craze) in his 25,000 volume library, Lenkiewicz’s conclusion – that what he called ‘the falling in love experience’ was identical to the cravings and delusions of addicts and fanatics – remains as unsettling now as when the artist first developed his ideas in Projects such as Love & Mediocrity (1976), Jealousy (1977), Orgasm (1978) and The Painter with Mary (1981).

Above all, the book’s 80 large colour plates demonstrate Lenkiewicz’s extraordinary gift for communicating ideas through haunting visual metaphors and situate him as a post-war British portrait painter of enormous ability.