Jarman - Chroma: a book of color, June 93

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Epub ISBN: 9781473559035

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Copyright Derek Jarman 1994

Derek Jarman has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

The chapter is taken from Blue, a film by Derek Jarman. Copyright Basilisk Communications Ltd 1993. This material appears by kind permission of the producers of the film.

First published in Great Britain by Century in 1994

Published by Vintage in 2000

penguin.co.uk/vintage

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

In Chroma, Derek Jarman explains the use of colour in Medieval painting through the Renaissance to the modernists and draws on the great colour theorists from Pliny to Leonardo. He also talks about the meaning of colours in literature, science, philosophy, psychology, religion and alchemy. The colours on Jarmans palette are mixed with memory and insight to create an evocative and highly personal work.

Derek Jarmans creativity spanned decades and genres painter, theatre designer, director, film maker, writer and gardener.

From his first one-man show at the Lisson Gallery in 1969; set designs and costumes for the theatre and ballet (Jazz Calendar with Frederick Ashton at Covent Garden, Don Giovanni with John Gielgud at the London Coliseum, The Rakes Progress with Ken Russell at Teatro Communale, Florence); production design for Ken Russells films The Devils and Savage Messiah; through his own films in super-8 before working on features: Sebastine (1976), Jubilee (1978), The Tempest (1979), The Angelic Conversation (1985), Caravaggio (1986), The Last of England (1987), War Requiem (1989), The Garden (1990), Edward II (1991), Wittgenstein (1993), and Blue (1993); to directing pop-videos and live performances for Pet Shop Boys and Suede.

His paintings for which he was a Turner Prize nominee in 1986 have been exhibited world-wide.

His garden surrounding the fishermans cottage in Dungeness where he spent the last years of his life remains a site of awe and pilgrimage to fans and newcomers to Jarmans singular vision.

His publications include: Dancing Ledge (1984), Kicking the Pricks (1987), Modern Nature (1991), At Your Own Risk (1992), Chroma (1994), Derek Jarmans Garden (1995).

Dancing Ledge

The Last of England

Modern Nature

At Your Own Risk

Chroma

Smiling in Slow Motion

A Book of Colour June 93

Brilliant, gorgeous, painted, gay,

Vivid, flaunting, tearaway,

Glowing, flaring, lurid, loud,

Screaming, shrieking, marching, proud,

Mellow, matching, deep and sombre,

Pastel, sober, dead and dull,

Constant, colourful, chromatic,

Party-coloured and prismatic,

Kaleidoscopic, variegated,

Tattooed, dyed, illuminated,

Daub and scumble, dip and dye,

High-keyed colour, colour lie.