The bright red flocking on the cover of Just
Above the Mantelpiece is your first indication that this book is
something quite special. Open it to any page, and you'll be sure to
find a piece of arresting and compelling ugliness. British fashion
designer Wayne Hemingway has collected scores of pieces of
"mass-market" art - prints of wild horses, matadors, cute puppies
and kittens, and of course, large-eyed children.
In fact, a large portion of this fabulous book is devoted to what
Hemingway calls "Big Eye" art. There are Big Eye kids in Paris, Big
Eye kids playing dress up, Big Eye kids with tears rolling down
their faces, even a Big Eye US marine in Korea. This book is also a
great place to find those pictures of unicorns or dolphins. And a
Nagle-style drawing of three butts aerobicizing together makes
anyone laugh out loud. The art is accompanied by Hemingway's
entertaining and informative commentary and his tart-tongued titles
for each work (e.g. "Four Fat Harlequins" and "Dancing Makes Me
Sad"). Connoisseurs will appreciate the tipped-in images for peeling
off and framing.
