Artist Dave McKean has revealed more details of his upcoming project Black Dog – The Dreams of Paul Nash, his new work co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival and On a Marché sur la Bulle in a new video interview.
As we’ve previously reported, Black Dog will get its premiere in Kendal on 28th May 2016, with a multimedia performance at the Town Hall and the release of a new graphic novel by the award-winning illustrator, comic artist, filmmaker and musician, who feels Nash is the perfect subject for the project.
The painter Paul Nash joined the British army when he was 25 years old, signing up six weeks after the start of World War One. The appalling experiences he endured, first as a soldier and later as an official war artist, prompted him to create paintings of disturbing, lasting power. Nash’s paintings have inspired this major new work by Dave McKean, the highly acclaimed illustrator, filmmaker and musician.
“I’ve always loved Nash’s work,” says McKean, “and when this possibility came up, I just thought Nash was the perfect subject.
“There are other artists who have caught the look of the war – the mud and the people in the trenches – but Nash got under the skin and in the mind, and I think his psychological change in the war is completely fascinating.”
Black Dog will be launched with a series of multimedia performances, with text, images and music performed by McKean and friends. The graphic novel will be released in two editions – a limited edition in May and a full publication in October at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (14-16 October 2016).
Art from the project will feature in Dave’s performance at Kendal Town Hall on 28th May 2016 as part of the 14-18 NOW programme – and as we previously mentioned tickets for this world premiere are selling fast, so book now.
Here’s the interview with Dave, courtesy 14-18 NOW
14-18 NOW is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England, by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and by additional fundraising. 14-18 NOW has commissioned over 80 artworks to date that have been seen by over 20 million people.
• Tickets for the premiere in Kendal on 28th May 2016 are available through the Brewery Arts Centre box office (tel: 01539 725 133) or website
• Additional performances will be held in France over the summer before the performance returns to Cumbria for the graphic novel launch in October
• For more about 14-18 NOW visit: www.1418now.org.uk
• Lakes International Comic Art Festival: www.comicartfestival.com
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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.
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