Dalmuir Library, Scotland is hosting a retrospective of artist Dave McKean’s work until 30th May.

This free exhibition in the Library’s Backdoor Gallery, part of the Booked! Festival which inclues appearances by SF writers Ian McLeod and Iain M. Banks, focuses on of framed works of original comic book art, book illustrations, photographs, and printed album covers is particularly aimed at a teenage and young adult audience — although anyone with an interest in contemporary popular culture will find it exhilarating.

Dave McKean (www.davemckean.com) grew up with the exciting potential of New Comics – with the idea that for the artist the comic medium could be a means of creative expression and not merely an exercise in drawing graphic stereotypes.

McKean quickly emerged as an artist of rare innovative ideas, adapting mixed media and collage techniques to the compelling design of covers and layouts for comic books and Exhibitions the new graphic novels. Often working with Neil Gaiman, his reputation was spread through such works as Violent Cases, Arkham Asylum, Signal to Noise, Sandman, and Mr. Punch.

McKean embraced the new disciplines and possibilities of computer graphics from the 1980s onwards. He has already created many memorable pieces of work, which have assured him a place in the international history of 21st century graphic art.

In 2005 he made his directorial debut in film with Mirror Mask – a visually stunning fantasy story co-written with Gaiman, who in addition to comics projects, he has also worked with on the children’s books The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish and Wolves in the Wall. (The latter has been interpreted for theatre by the Improbable Company together with the National Theatre of Scotland).

• The Dave McKean Retrospective is at the Backdoor Gallery, Dalmuir Library, 3 Lennox Place, Dalmuir G81 4HR. Open Mon, Wed – Fri: 9.30am – 5pm; Tue: 1.30pm – 8pm; Sat: 10am – 1pm
• Go to www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/library to download the Booked! 2009 programme of events, which includes more information on the McKean exhibition on Page 9

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

Categories: Exhibitions

Tags: Dave McKean, Neil Gaiman, Scotland