Constructive abandonment

If, like some of the DW team, you were thrown into a grump after the realisation that following tonight’s midsummer eve the days are only going to get shorter, then new book, Constructive Abandonment, by Michael Dumontier and Neil Farber may well appeal.

Constructive Abandonment
Constructive Abandonment

The book, which has been realised by Canadian independent publisher Drawn & Quarterly (well worth checking out, if you haven’t before), features a series of child-like, often humorous, paintings of animals and children weighed down by the pressures of life.

A new life away from the lab/farm
’A new life away from the lab/farm’

'Lothario Ways'
’Happy 40th birthday Mom, wherever you live’

The book offers up often comic and sometimes moving scenes, including a manatee delivering a first aid box to a drowning man, a sword-wielding chap and racoon fighting a dinosaur and a young boy retching into a towl with the caption ‘Grandma’s Potroast’. There are also some excellent visual examples of the ‘werge’ – including a ‘Manicorn’ – half man, half unicorn – and ‘Grampoline’ – an elderly trampolinist.

'Lothario Ways'
’Lothario Ways’

'Lothario Ways'
’The African Fellatiating House Frog’

The strength of the paintings is their naïve style coupled with the incongruous, and sometimes dark, captioning. It’s an entertaining read, charming enough to shake off even the most stubborn Midsummer blues.

'Lothario Ways'
’Dog eat pig’

Constructive Abandonment by Michael Dumontier and Neil Farber is published by Drawn & Quarterly, priced at $15.95.

Start the discussionStart the discussion
  • Post a comment

Latest articles