Daniel Clowes's recently released graphic novel "Monica" follows the overarching narrative of its titular protagonist, from her birth to her eventual passing, in a manner that is self-critical and satirical; a creation that can only come from an artist whose approach is singular.
Such is Clowes's way of storytelling: offbeat but still retains a sense of sympathy for its characters, depicted with an almost fanatical level of detail that is both endearing and puzzling.
As the artist said in an interview with The Comics Journal, the art is a physical derivative of everything the novel stands for which is accepting the uncertain and "dealing with chaos."
Now, Clowes's art itself will be basking further in the spotlight as it goes on exhibition this upcoming Jan. 24 at the famed Galerie Martel in Paris, featuring over 30 works comprising ink and colored pencil sketches and panels that the artist created for "Monica" as well as other works from his oeuvre.
The cover art for Daniel Clowes' critically acclaimed 2023 graphic novel "Monica," whose art will be featured in an upcoming exhibition at the Galerie Martel in Paris.
The Art of Daniel Clowes
Despite being a cartoonist with a rather "niche" art style, which is reminiscent of '80s alternative comics, Clowes has still achieved a sizeable mainstream fanbase alongside the renown that comes with it.
He's even been recognized through awards and brand deals, with one of his comics called "Wilson" going as far as receiving a film adaptation that starred the famous actor Woody Harrelson. Sufficed to say, he's now considered to be one of the US' first-rate graphic novelists.
That said, the mainstream renown isn't a reflection of his work's true oddball edge, as it is still reminiscent of the humor that was present in his earlier works like "Eightball" (1989 - 2004), "Ghost World" (1997), and the aforementioned "Wilson" (2010).
The depth and sincerity of his narratives, which were widely present in his most recent work, were also rooted in Clowes's past comics, such as "David Boring" (2000) and "Patience" (2016).
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Galerie Martel Showcases Daniel Clowes's 'Magnum Opus'
"Monica" is markedly the cartoonist's current peak in creative storytelling, as evident in the novel's critical success.
Clowes's close friend Ari Aster, a renowned filmmaker known for psychological horror hits like "Midsommar," has even said that "Monica" was the artist's "magnum opus," according to an LA Times report.
The graphic novel is admittedly a momentous project for Clowes, as it was a 5-year-long endeavor, but all that work was necessary to respectfully pay homage to old genre comics while delivering a thematically balanced approach between horror and romance between its collective 9 chapters.
As for the exhibition, the formerly mentioned past works of the artist are included in Galerie Martel's curated selection, as well as the commissioned works he did for the New Yorker and the Criterion Collection.
This isn't the first show that brought the cartoonist's art out in the open through exhibitions. In particular, his work was also showcased in a 2003 LA art show, and most prominently, in a 2012 exhibition by California's Oakland Museum which presented over 100 works of his.
His upcoming Jan. 24 exhibition in Paris, dubbed "Daniel Clowes," will be in full view at the Galerie Martel until February 24.
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