Background Artist
Autor Karen Fangen Limba Engleză Hardback – 11 oct 2024
You might not know the name Tyrus Wong, but you probably know some of the images he created, including scenes from the beloved Disney classic Bambi. Yet when he came to this country as a child, Tyrus was an illegal immigrant locked up in an offshore detention center. How did he go on to a long and prosperous career drawing animation cels, storyboards, and greeting cards that shaped the American imagination?
Background Artist shares the inspiring story of Tyrus Wong’s remarkable 106-year life and showcases his wide array of creative work, from the paintings and fine art prints he made working for Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration to the unique handmade kites he designed and flew on the Santa Monica beach. It tells how he came to the United States as a ten-year-old boy in 1920, at a time when the Chinese Exclusion Act barred him from legal citizenship. Yet it also shows how Wong found American communities that welcomed him and nurtured his artistic talent. Covering everything from his work as a studio sketch artist for Warner Bros. to the best-selling Christmas cards he designed for Hallmark and other greeting card companies, this book celebrates a multitalented Asian American artist and pioneer.
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Specificații
ISBN-13: 9781978838413
ISBN-10: 1978838417
Pagini: 536
Ilustrații: 61 color and 38 B-W images
Dimensiuni: 165 x 236 x 36 mm
Greutate: 0.91 kg
Editura: Rutgers University Press
ISBN-10: 1978838417
Pagini: 536
Ilustrații: 61 color and 38 B-W images
Dimensiuni: 165 x 236 x 36 mm
Greutate: 0.91 kg
Editura: Rutgers University Press
Notă biografică
KAREN FANG is a film scholar and cultural critic who writes for museums and film festivals around the world. She is a professor of English at the University of Houston, and her previous books include Arresting Cinema: Surveillance in Hong Kong Film and Romantic Writing and the Empire of Signs: Periodical Culture and Post-Napoleonic Authorship.
Recenzii
"The definitive new biography."
"Fang reveals how Wong's career . . . reflected the tension between visibility and invisibility experienced by many of the era's Asian immigrants, who shaped American culture in ways that were often overlooked or unseen. . . . The result is a worthy tribute to a groundbreaking artist."
"Though a creative legend is the heart of Fang's well-researched and affecting book, it also explores L.A.'s Chinese American culture and the powerful potential of art."
"A much-needed addition to the annals of Chinese American history."
"Fang tells the wider and deeper story of Wong as an Asian who expressed life through his art."
"Besides being a gripping and important American story, Background Artist is also a physically beautiful book. It's a hardcover with one hundred black-and-white and color photos and images from Tyrus's art and life."
"Meticulously researched and accessible."
"It offers a rich, nuanced perspective on Wong's contributions—not only as an artist, but as a Chinese-American navigating a segregated industry and finding ways to make his mark through innovation and beauty. . . . Packed with vivid details, Fang's narrative unveils a kaleidoscopic exploration of the immigrant origins behind some of America's most beloved imagery."
"Fang gives the underappreciated artist the spotlight he deserves. . . . Thoughtful and compelling, her portrait invites us to explore Wong's impressive life, Fang's pursuit in appreciating it, and the ideals—artistic vision, transformation, recognition—connecting the two."
"A solid and illuminating work."
"What is more amazing: the artwork of Tyrus Wong or the story of his life? Intertwining both, Fang’s captivating narrative unveils Wong’s immigrant journey to his groundbreaking contributions to Bambi and beyond. "
"Background Artist is simply a must-read for any art or history buff. Karen Fang blends art, Hollywood, California, and American history into a beautiful, important portrait of a beautiful, important life. Packed with vivid details, she brings Wong's fascinating story to life. As essential as it is moving, this book is just wonderful."
"Karen Fang has created a sweeping and richly detailed portrait of Tyrus Wong that captures both the breadth and beauty of his art and the complexity and often cruel irony of living in a society that simultaneously embraced and tried to erase him. Background Artist is a stunning achievement."
"Karen Fang has written a deeply researched and intimate biography of the great modern Chinese American artist Tyrus Wong, whose elegant, poetic, and dramatic brushstrokes have been enjoyed by millions. This is an inspiring and pertinent portrait of Wong, an immigrant child who lived to be 106 years old and who struggled to overcome racism with his art."
"In Background Artist, Tyrus Wong finally receives the biography he deserves. Placing Wong’s life within the broader narrative of Asian American history, Karen Fang illuminates the ways in which events ranging from Chinese Exclusion to Japanese American wartime incarceration to the creation of the Model Minority myth influenced Wong's work as an artist. Fang’s engaging, highly readable style makes this a must-read for academic and general audiences alike."
"Through incredible storytelling, Karen Fang effortlessly illuminates historical context through Tyrus's lived experiences of the injustices, restrictions, and complexities of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Background Artist broadens and deepens our perspective and above all humanizes our understanding of not only the past but our present. What a valued gift to our community!"
"Karen Fang has done a thorough and meticulous job chronicling the life of the remarkable and inspiring Chinese American artist Tyrus Wong. Here was a man of many firsts, who surmounted many professional obstacles and personal struggles. Without having met Tyrus, Fang has captured his sense of humor and the wondrous way he looked at the world around him. As a book, Background Artist is as versatile as Tyrus was and will find a place on many different shelves: Chinese American history, Disney lore, art history, and artist biography."
“In her compulsively readable, painstakingly researched biography of the multi-hyphenate Tyrus Wong—storyboard and sketch artist at Disney and Warner Bros., painter, illustrator, Hallmark card designer and kite maker, Chinese émigré and American trailblazer—Karen Fang skillfully blends political, cultural, and motion-picture history to tell the gripping story of one of classical Hollywood’s unsung heroes.”
"Karen Fang portrays Tyrus Wong's illustrious career in a way that's just as bright and brilliant as the artist's most dazzling work, all while examining it against a very dark time in America. This is an important story that's been left out of our history books."
"Background Artist is a beautifully written biography of Tyrus Wong, an artist whose life spanned over a century and whose work crossed boundaries of fine, commercial, and entertainment art. Karen Fang is a master storyteller and deft interpreter who brings to life this remarkable individual by contextualizing Wong’s significance in relation to Chinese American history and the history of art."
"This is the inspiring journey of the long and extraordinary life of Tyrus Wong — an immigrant whose talent as a visionary artist transcended barriers, shaped unique cinematic landscapes, and left an indelible mark on our industry. Background Artist is a testament to the American dream!"
"A crucial account, brimming with illuminating detail, that brings to light the contributions of one of the unsung creators of twentieth-century popular culture, from Disney to Warner Bros. to Hallmark—and beyond. Karen Fang has given us the gift of a quintessentially American story."
"Karen Fang unveils the rich tapestry of Tyrus Wong’s remarkable life from his early struggles as an immigrant to his pioneering contributions in art, films, and beyond. Despite facing discrimination and adversity at every turn, he soared above every challenge with resilience and humor, reminding us of the Chinese saying ‘real gold does not fear the test of fire’. A must-read for anyone seeking to know the full story of a legend whose legacy extends far beyond his work on Bambi."
"In this deeply researched and timely biography, Karen Fang rightly positions Tyrus Wong at the center of American visual culture of the mid-20th century. Background Artist brings Wong and the Chinese diaspora to the foreground, reorienting how we think about Hollywood, California history, and American commercial production, generally."
"A classic Hollywood tale about an immigrant who overcame overwhelming odds to leave a lasting mark on American culture, Karen Fang has written the definitive biography of Tyrus Wong. Background Artist is a book that left me feeling uplifted and inspired. It makes an important contribution to our understanding of the Chinese American experience."
"Tyrus Wong is an American treasure whose triumphant immigrant story and contributions to art will now be better known thanks to Karen Fang’s illuminating biography, Background Artist. Fang brilliantly paints a portrait of a man whose bold brush strokes helped make Bambi an iconic film, created the background for many Hollywood movie sets, and graced numerous Hallmark greeting cards, among other accomplishments."
"Fang reveals how Wong's career . . . reflected the tension between visibility and invisibility experienced by many of the era's Asian immigrants, who shaped American culture in ways that were often overlooked or unseen. . . . The result is a worthy tribute to a groundbreaking artist."
"Though a creative legend is the heart of Fang's well-researched and affecting book, it also explores L.A.'s Chinese American culture and the powerful potential of art."
"A much-needed addition to the annals of Chinese American history."
"Fang tells the wider and deeper story of Wong as an Asian who expressed life through his art."
"Besides being a gripping and important American story, Background Artist is also a physically beautiful book. It's a hardcover with one hundred black-and-white and color photos and images from Tyrus's art and life."
"Meticulously researched and accessible."
"It offers a rich, nuanced perspective on Wong's contributions—not only as an artist, but as a Chinese-American navigating a segregated industry and finding ways to make his mark through innovation and beauty. . . . Packed with vivid details, Fang's narrative unveils a kaleidoscopic exploration of the immigrant origins behind some of America's most beloved imagery."
"Fang gives the underappreciated artist the spotlight he deserves. . . . Thoughtful and compelling, her portrait invites us to explore Wong's impressive life, Fang's pursuit in appreciating it, and the ideals—artistic vision, transformation, recognition—connecting the two."
"A solid and illuminating work."
"What is more amazing: the artwork of Tyrus Wong or the story of his life? Intertwining both, Fang’s captivating narrative unveils Wong’s immigrant journey to his groundbreaking contributions to Bambi and beyond. "
"Background Artist is simply a must-read for any art or history buff. Karen Fang blends art, Hollywood, California, and American history into a beautiful, important portrait of a beautiful, important life. Packed with vivid details, she brings Wong's fascinating story to life. As essential as it is moving, this book is just wonderful."
"Karen Fang has created a sweeping and richly detailed portrait of Tyrus Wong that captures both the breadth and beauty of his art and the complexity and often cruel irony of living in a society that simultaneously embraced and tried to erase him. Background Artist is a stunning achievement."
"Karen Fang has written a deeply researched and intimate biography of the great modern Chinese American artist Tyrus Wong, whose elegant, poetic, and dramatic brushstrokes have been enjoyed by millions. This is an inspiring and pertinent portrait of Wong, an immigrant child who lived to be 106 years old and who struggled to overcome racism with his art."
"In Background Artist, Tyrus Wong finally receives the biography he deserves. Placing Wong’s life within the broader narrative of Asian American history, Karen Fang illuminates the ways in which events ranging from Chinese Exclusion to Japanese American wartime incarceration to the creation of the Model Minority myth influenced Wong's work as an artist. Fang’s engaging, highly readable style makes this a must-read for academic and general audiences alike."
"Through incredible storytelling, Karen Fang effortlessly illuminates historical context through Tyrus's lived experiences of the injustices, restrictions, and complexities of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Background Artist broadens and deepens our perspective and above all humanizes our understanding of not only the past but our present. What a valued gift to our community!"
"Karen Fang has done a thorough and meticulous job chronicling the life of the remarkable and inspiring Chinese American artist Tyrus Wong. Here was a man of many firsts, who surmounted many professional obstacles and personal struggles. Without having met Tyrus, Fang has captured his sense of humor and the wondrous way he looked at the world around him. As a book, Background Artist is as versatile as Tyrus was and will find a place on many different shelves: Chinese American history, Disney lore, art history, and artist biography."
“In her compulsively readable, painstakingly researched biography of the multi-hyphenate Tyrus Wong—storyboard and sketch artist at Disney and Warner Bros., painter, illustrator, Hallmark card designer and kite maker, Chinese émigré and American trailblazer—Karen Fang skillfully blends political, cultural, and motion-picture history to tell the gripping story of one of classical Hollywood’s unsung heroes.”
"Karen Fang portrays Tyrus Wong's illustrious career in a way that's just as bright and brilliant as the artist's most dazzling work, all while examining it against a very dark time in America. This is an important story that's been left out of our history books."
"Background Artist is a beautifully written biography of Tyrus Wong, an artist whose life spanned over a century and whose work crossed boundaries of fine, commercial, and entertainment art. Karen Fang is a master storyteller and deft interpreter who brings to life this remarkable individual by contextualizing Wong’s significance in relation to Chinese American history and the history of art."
"This is the inspiring journey of the long and extraordinary life of Tyrus Wong — an immigrant whose talent as a visionary artist transcended barriers, shaped unique cinematic landscapes, and left an indelible mark on our industry. Background Artist is a testament to the American dream!"
"A crucial account, brimming with illuminating detail, that brings to light the contributions of one of the unsung creators of twentieth-century popular culture, from Disney to Warner Bros. to Hallmark—and beyond. Karen Fang has given us the gift of a quintessentially American story."
"Karen Fang unveils the rich tapestry of Tyrus Wong’s remarkable life from his early struggles as an immigrant to his pioneering contributions in art, films, and beyond. Despite facing discrimination and adversity at every turn, he soared above every challenge with resilience and humor, reminding us of the Chinese saying ‘real gold does not fear the test of fire’. A must-read for anyone seeking to know the full story of a legend whose legacy extends far beyond his work on Bambi."
"In this deeply researched and timely biography, Karen Fang rightly positions Tyrus Wong at the center of American visual culture of the mid-20th century. Background Artist brings Wong and the Chinese diaspora to the foreground, reorienting how we think about Hollywood, California history, and American commercial production, generally."
"A classic Hollywood tale about an immigrant who overcame overwhelming odds to leave a lasting mark on American culture, Karen Fang has written the definitive biography of Tyrus Wong. Background Artist is a book that left me feeling uplifted and inspired. It makes an important contribution to our understanding of the Chinese American experience."
"Tyrus Wong is an American treasure whose triumphant immigrant story and contributions to art will now be better known thanks to Karen Fang’s illuminating biography, Background Artist. Fang brilliantly paints a portrait of a man whose bold brush strokes helped make Bambi an iconic film, created the background for many Hollywood movie sets, and graced numerous Hallmark greeting cards, among other accomplishments."
Descriere
Background Artist tells the inspiring story of Tyrus Wong, a Chinese immigrant who eventually became a best-selling greeting card designer, Warner Bros. sketch artist, and instrumental influence on the beloved Disney animated film, Bambi. Covering his remarkable 106-year life, this book celebrates a multi-talented and pioneering Asian-American artist whose work shaped the American imagination.