Review: Back Alleys and Urban Landscapes by Michael Cho
Title: Back Alleys and Urban Landscapes
Artist: Michael Cho
Length: 80 pages
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher / Year: Drawn & Quarterly / 2012
Source: Amazon
Rating: 5/5
Why I Read It: It sounded really interesting, and beautiful.
Date Read: 25/05/12
Cho is a Toronto based graphic artist and in this book he has compiled a collection of his art featuring the city of Toronto. We have lots of back alleys and city views, complete with the graffiti that often dots the fences and buildings. The works include, as Cho says, ‘watercolour, gouache, ink, markers, and coloured dyes’, and more.
Photo from Cho’s book, off his website.
The book begins with a short introduction by Cho about his work and how he got in to painting / drawing / working with alleys, but after that it is mostly just the images. I do wish he had included the intersection or address for the works, as I’d love to check out some of the places in person – but he may have wished to keep them quiet and hidden for only those few that already know about them, and to protect people’s privacy as the images are of their alleys and backyards.
The art is gorgeous and I know I’ll be going over the images again and again. Toronto truly has some beautiful views in it, but here Cho instead has made the everyday and ordinary beautiful. If you love the city, or really if you love any city, or great art, do check out this book.
You can see more of Cho’s work on his website, including some images from this book.
The included picture looks beautiful. I think it must be extra special given that it’s set in a city you live in.
It is Iris, makes me want to explore more for sure.
Love the picture up there!
I want it on my wall Trish
This looks great. I typically enjoy publications from Drawn & Quarterly. Good stuff!
I really must read more by them Andi, now that I know what amazing things they publish!
Gorgeous art indeed!
Thanks Ana
This artwork almost makes me nostalgic for the city – or least of those pockets of beauty Cho illustrates with such talent.
It’s interesting how much of what he draws wouldn’t be considered conventionally beautiful if it were photographs of the place itself isn’t it Debbie? i.e. people may want some of the back alleys cleaned up, but yet he illustrates them to look amazing!