David Choe

This splashy, classy book is a monograph written by David Choe, the name of the book being DAVID CHOE. It is an artwork in and of itself in that the artist wrote all the content, designed the layout of the book, edited the mixture and then added an Introduction that amounts to bits and pieces pasted from responses to his art from his blog - not a bad idea -, but 99% of these comments are extremely negative, suggesting that Choe is a fool, a racist, a plagiarist, and a artist with no talent! It is a very funny way to open a book that is like no other book you will encounter. This reader finds it fascinating, hilarious, thoughtful, daring, and in all a magnificent read and view that will find its way onto the lap repeatedly.For background about the artist David Choe, of Korean heritage, we must turn to the internet info: 'David Choe was born 1976 in Los Angeles. Today he is currently homeless wandering the earth. Making good art and bad music. His favorite places are Vietnam, Israel, NYC, and the Bay Area. Even though he dropped out of art school, he still gets asked to speak at universities all the time. He works in all mediums, he can paint anything and everything, as well as on anything and everything. He has won lots of awards and his work can be found in every facet of society, from comics, murals, toys, prints, movies, magazines, books, T shirts, commercials, posters, shoes, fine art, live demos, etc. He says he wants to retire early and illustrate the entire Bible and paint the entire Great Wall of China. But who knows anything with this guy'. It is fairly obvious who the author of this CV is!What is certain, after reading and spending time with this book, saturated with color, pornography, and examples of everything he has done, is that he is a daring and wholly unique young talent. Some have suggested a comparison with Jean-Michel Basquiat, and there indeed are similarities in portions of Choe's work to justify that, but there are equal doses of Egon Schiele and the major graffiti artists of the day. What makes David Choe so fascinating is his spectrum of talent. He is not one easily labeled - except perhaps that he is a renegade shaking up a society he finds too complacent, too uninvolved. There are pages of watercolors from exhibitions in British galleries that are at once masterfully painted with minimal line and graphically sexual. But then there are pages of toys he has created, complex paintings, murals on the walls of rooms and of streets that can only be called dazzling. This is a book that will keep offering visual and visceral pleasures every time it is placed on the desk or the lap or against knees in the bed. If those who called Gauguin et al 'The Fauves' could compare David Choe's talent, that word would have to transfer to this artist. An added page slipped inside the back cover of this book (so as not to destroy the effect of the drool-stained pillowcase photograph that serves as the art at the beginning and end of this monograph) there is a included a pink box stating 'Ten years in the making, this career-spanning collection of paintings, sketches, murals, graffiti, snapshots, toys, collages, stories, and photographs was created, designed, and written by David himself.' Adjacent to this statement is scratched 'David Choe's kinetic and frenetic work transcends the streets and galleries as he mixes oil paints, watercolors, love, spray paint, life, collage, unrealistic expectations, blood, body parts, and tear jerking into something to have and to hold. he is a hopeless romantic and homeless millionaire.'Pasted around the page are comments, like 'His personality is probably his biggest flaw in his art.', 'david choe is horrible at everything. he's horrible at just existing.', 'In a phrase, Choe is that artist that every University MFA wannabe wishes they could be: hard-working, bursting with creativity, successful, and even tormented. The downside to all this talent is that Choe is as extremely unlikeable as he is charming. He's the Peter Pan who failed to grow out of his pubescent tantrums, always flailing against authority. Clifford Hilo'. That about sums up the experience of getting to know the prolific art of this inordinately creative young artist. He will be noticed! Grady Harp, September 10

This book is merely like David's personal diary. I had already purchased two books earlier when it was released and then a buddy stopped by at my home and found DC's book lying around. He and his wife were fascinated by this book and was planning to buy one. I just gave them the second copy. This shows why this book is a keeper of all the art books that I have collected.In other word, David has put all of his sweat and some other puny details that I won't disclose here simply because some people can't accept the fact the way his artistic, honest mind functions here. So, if you have a curious and open mind, then, by all means, get this book in your shelves as it will provide timeless entertainment for your pleasure like it did to me occasionally.

Got this for my girl friend for mothers day. David Choe is her favorite artist. Thank god for amazon, I didnt have to go out and look for a gift ( I suck at that)

David Choe is a great artist and original about his work. It is unfortunate how others attempt to stand out as different when they're not.

Awesome

great book, packed full of art and stories. If your familiar with choe's work and enjoy it, you need this book.

Great book. thick and dense.

This is a captiviating and imerssive look at the work of David Choe. It tells the story, through liner notes, sketches, and complete works, of his impressive career in visual art.

Love or hate him you simply can't ignore David Choe!HIs personal life and art cross back and forth to the point of mania, detailing and dissecting failed relationships, his gambling addiction and world travels often made hitch hiking or freight train hopping. A Korean lunatic for all seasons, part porn star, part musician, artist and big unashamed kid revelling in life experience. He is quoted as saying he is aware of the clock ticking and is pumping out as much art as he can before the magic dies.This book could have done with more writing to actually READ and what writing there is, is quite irritatingly presented as scrawled high school fanzine rants.It IS a good book, a must have for fans of his art and crazy lifestyle.The man who made 200 million dollars spray painting the facebook offices and then went off freight hopping with little in his pocket. Mad, bad or genius, you decide.

Full of stuff you won't be able to find online, I love the way David Choe talks about his work, showing you a retrospective archive of stuff he's done over the years with funny anecdotes and personal stories alongside. This book is probably what made me such a fan!

La verdad que ya habia visto por encima el libro y por eso lo compré, a mi personalmente me encanta el trabajo de Choe, más por lo que me inspira que por su trabajo en sí

David Choe is me, but a richer version of me who's better at art and drums and getting the fly honeys. I bought this book because DVDASA all day erryday, and I highly recommend you do the same so that they sell out and go up in price. Thanks.