Book Club: Boris Hoppek
Boris Hoppek’s simple yet very recognizable characters have officially gone 3D. In “86 Negritos”, Hoppek works around the theme of illegal immigrants from Africa crossing over to Europe in boats and the poor conditions they try this in, often shipwrecking or drowning on their journey.
The book is a show catalogue for a recent solo exhibition in Cádiz, a harbour town known for this hot topic in the South-West of Spain, and by adding touristic snapshots and temporary art installations outside of the exhibition area, the publication stays truly surprising from page to page.
Hoppek’s work looks streamlined as ever, whether he makes boats, crowded by thin wooden panels with faces painted on them, rafts, flags, masks, caskets or chalk wall drawings. The installations where visitors are invited to participate in the action like shooting targets, a phallic boxing ball or a room where cardboard boxes represent a morgue are extremely thought-through as well. Universal themes like birth, sex, love and death still seem to be favourites of the artist, and since they’re basic subjects we all come across at several points in our lives, this exhibition and book can apply to anyone, anywhere.
“86 Negritos” by Boris Hoppek. ISBN 8-493-61820-9, 80p, 15.5x22 cm, full colour content and hardback cover for €25 on www.iguapop.net.
- Eva
