Maurice VellekoopMaurice Vellekoop
Vellevision
Gay and Pop
by Tony Esposito
Doing an article on Vellekoop's art
is unfair. The usual "a picture is worth a thousand words" applies here.
But there is something to say about the man himself and his extraordinary trajectory.
Toronto born and still resident, Vellekoop, after graduating from Ontario College
of Art, became rapidly in demand. His work with magazines (Rolling Stone, Esquire,
Vogue, British Wallpaper, even Sports Illustrated) and publicity agencies
gave him a notoriety and, of course, the attention of the general public. Even if
his name is not known by all, his art is recognizable by many.
The first word
to describe Vellekoop's drawings is 50's. Something out of another era. So the contrasts
with the content surprises. Even if, on the surface, Vellekoop is not political or
militant, the naive varnish is very thin. Scratch a bit and you will find irony,
criticism, subversion... in a stylish way.
At the end
of the year 97, Maurice Vellekoop gave us, through publisher Drawn & Quaterly,
Vellevision, an anthology of his work as a cartoonist. Au menu: fashion and
celebrities, sex (straight, bisexual and gay), humour and breathtaking images.
Vellekoop, Maurice. Vellevision, Drawn
& Quaterly,1997, 112 p.
