The Film Painter — Rolling Stone

Since the 1950s, Alejandro Jodorowsky’s art has combined theater, film, literature, comics, performance and spiritual practice to create a body of work that critics and fans, with an understandable lack of appropriate words, describe as “surreal”. Instead of a linear narrative, the Chilean-French filmmaker works with symbolism; his films “El Topo” and “The Holy Mountain” are the key works of midnight cinema: mysticism, alchemy, tarot and psychoanalysis. You feel them and understand them, but you can’t retell them.

His never realized film project “Dune” is of particular importance. The adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel planned in the 1970s failed in implementation, but had an impact. The concept art later influenced works from “Alien” to “Blade Runner.” And just the idea of ​​being able to make a deal with Salvador Dalí AND Orson Welles is sensational.

The new two-volume ““Art Sin Fin” is dedicated to the entire work of the almost 97-year-old artist. Jodorowsky himself compiled the image material from his archive: film stills, drawings, photographs, stage works and documents from decades. The second volume shifts the focus to the text: comments, reflections and autobiographical texts by Jodorowsky, supplemented by conversations and contributions from companions. The following applies to both books: feelings, rather than the mind, control understanding.

LSD trip with a philosophy degree

The fairly heavy edition appears as a sculptural box set made of plain plexiglass, the shape of which is reminiscent of recurring motifs from Jodorowsky’s work, especially light and dark as opposing forces. The fonts – one based on medieval inscriptions, the other inspired by science fiction aesthetics – are said to have been specially developed. The associated box can be used as a book stand.

Should you watch all of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s films again? In any case. His films feel like spiritual trials with costumes, blood and tarot cards. “El Topo” is a Western without rules, “The Holy Mountain” is an LSD trip with a philosophy degree. “Dune” failed spectacularly – and still influenced half of Hollywood.

• Alejandro Jodorowsky. Art Sin Fin
• Two volumes in a plexiglass box that can be used as a book stand
• 25x42x9cm
• Volume 1: Softcover with fold-out pages, 22 x 29.5 cm, 1,096 pages, golden book cut at the top and bottom, signature sheet at random
• Volume 2: Hardcover with black book cut, 22 x 8.5 cm, 1,072 pages
• Total weight 14kg
• Bags
• €1250