Gus Van Sant: Icons

Description

This reference work presents the full range of the filmmaker's artistry (photography, painting and music) through the optic of his films. It is an original work combining all facets of his creation for the first time, bringing a fresh vision of his cinematographic work. At the heart of the book is the exhibition curator Matthieu Orlean's unpublished interview with Gus Van Sant in Portland in June 2015, discussing the whole scope of his work and inspirations through a network of images organized into themes. The work also explores the work of other artists whose heritage Gus Van Sant believes he is continuing: heritage beat, pop, rock, and experimental filmmakers, writers and visual artists like William Burroughs, William Eggleston, Harmony Korine and Ed Ruscha. There is also critical analysis of the many themes Gus Van Sant tackles in his work related to his own personal reflections on life, accompanied by first-hand anecdotes and an in-depth appraisal of the production processes used in each movie, from the experimental shorts of the 70s to Sea of Trees, presented at the Cannes Festival in May 2015, soon to be released in cinemas. The monograph also feature essays by Stephane Bouquet, Benjamin Thorel, Bertrand Schefer and Stefano Boni, who provide their own interpretations of his protean work. Each essay tackles specific aspects of Gus Van Sant's creation through reflections on the heterogenous nature of his methods and approach.

Gus Van Sant is an American filmmaker, musician, painter, photographer, writer and screenplaywriter. He lives and works in Portland, Oregon.

Presents a welcome opportunity to step inside Van Sant's mind courtesy of expansive interviews, influential artworks, visually arresting moodboards, diagrams plotting out scenes, on-set photographs, and perhaps best of all, the many Polaroids the director took early in his career to document the stars who passed through his studio, which acted as a key casting tool in the days before digital photography.-- "Another Magazine" The book is a gold mine of images, artwork, essays, portraits, sketches, interviews, and first-person accounts, that offer insight into the inner workings of the iconic American filmmaker.--Eileen Kinsella "Artnet" Van Sant never shied away from queering the moviegoing experience. Here, portraits of his muses past and present, including Matt Dillon, Keanu Reeves, and the late River Phoenix, and rare behind-the-scenes shots shed new light on the filmmaker's career--Julien Sauvalle "OUT Magazine" Coffee-table tome Gus Van Sant: Icons surveys the Oscar nominated filmmaker's wide body of work, from photography (of, say, his To Die For leading lady Nicole Kidman) to watercolor and charcoal portraits.-- "Elle Magazine"