When we utter the words ‘comic strip’, you might immediately think of the cliché cartoons that we spent our childhood enjoying but Greg Guillemin will change your perception of this art form. ‘The Secret Life of Heroes’ is all about the rock and roll side of fictional characters. It encompasses sex, lust, guilty pleasures and puts the middle finger up, quite literally, to the normal super hero portrayal we have seen throughout the years.
He also artistically manipulates iconic figures by developing original perceptions of portraiture. Guillemin’s ‘FC’ collection simplifies the human form by accentuating characteristics associated with iconic figures. One example of this is his interpretation of Marilyn Monroe. He merely uses a red oval (lips), a blonde bob and a beauty mark to represent her and strangely, it works. Other icons included in the FC collection include- Gandhi, Warhol, Groucho, Vince, Einstein, Che and Dali, who are all well known for specific facial characteristics.
His art is primarily minimalistic but many other art forms are contributed and his work also maintains complex design elements. The concept is often more important than the design itself, therefore his simplistic work is perhaps the most narrative filled. Although many of the prints intentionally look 2D, which can often result in art looking flat and lifeless, in this case it helps to promote this ‘surreal portrait interpretation’ that Guillemin is frequently trying to narrate.