Death's Children by Mark Adair...

Mark Adair
Death's Children
March 27 - April 18, 2010

loop Gallery
1273 Dundas Street West (3 doors west of Dovercourt)
Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1X8

Wed-Sat 1-5pm

Sun 1-4pm

Went to see Death's Children, the latest (and final?) installment in Mark Adair's Death series. The first in the series, also on display, is entitled Death Drinks. These are small, playing card or tarot card sized charcoal drawings about the seemingly normal misadventures of Death in the modern world (falling in love, getting a job, having kids, etc.). Incredibly detailed drawings, especially for charcoal work; these are wonderfully creepy little Gothic vignettes that amuse and disturb at the same time. Elements of dark European art and Tim Burtonesque landscapes blend to create little scenes that draw the viewer into Death's world. Very engrossing. Highly, highly recommend anyone in the Dundas & Dovercourt area to drop in and take a look.

I've seen this piece in various stages over the last decade or so and it has easily become one of my favourite pieces created by Adair. Mark's work has always seemed to delve into the darker side of life and in the late '90s we discussed this and other ponderings in an interview entitled Culture, Art, Death for a now defunct online zine (The Annihilation Fountain).

There is a very interesting bio film (directed & produced by Patrick Jenkins) about Mark and his art entitled Death Is In Trouble Now, available from Moving Images Distribution. A short youtube excerpt of this film is below.