BEN LOWY: The Comment Section

 © Benjamin Lowy 2017

 © Benjamin Lowy 2017

 © Benjamin Lowy 2017

 © Benjamin Lowy 2017

 © Benjamin Lowy 2017

 © Benjamin Lowy 2017

 © Benjamin Lowy 2017

© Benjamin Lowy 2017

"I’m a big fan of graphic novels—an oft derided literary genre—where morality is drawn in black and white; the hero and the villain. There is little patience for ambiguity in the battle between the two. I am over-simplifying comics, but in its essence it has always been a battle between good and evil. Though, like all good fantasy or science fiction, it masks real world issues under the veil of disposable entertainment. The 2016 election felt like an opportune time for me to combine the illustrations of what I saw, with the textual airings of our collective inner monologues. Twitter as the comic book thought bubble." – Benjamin Lowy, 2017

THE COMMENT SECTION

The Comment Section creatively interprets the divisive political landscape during the 2016 United States presidential campaign. Through illustrations and curated public comments, Lowy depicts the enmity between Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals, globalists and nationalists, among others. He pairs documentary images turned into illustrations taken during the yearlong run-up to the presidential election, with the absurd rhetoric that filled newsrooms and social media news feeds. The Comment Section gives readers a visual peek into what shook the psyche of a nation. It is a reflection on the growing mis/use of social media and the breakdown of dialogue.’

BUY IT HERE

lowyimages.com/books/the-comment-section

All illustrations were made from unaltered photographs taken on assignment by photojournalist Benjamin Lowy for Time Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. All tweets and comments were publicly accessible. "Special thanks goes to my partner Marvi Lacar and my editors Stacey Baker, Olivier Laurent, Paul Moakley, Sarah Morse, Kira Pollack, Abby Sher, and Kathy Ryan."

RICHARD HAINES: Behind The Scenes Exhibit Milan 02.04.10

Self Portrait Richard Haines on "What I Saw Today"

Photographer Josh Olins
Illustration by Richard Haines for Pennyblack Magalog

Illustration by Richard Haines for Pennyblack Magalog

Illustration by Richard Haines for Pennyblack Magalog

Dries Van Noten as seen on "What I Saw Today"
Menswear Illustrations by Richard Haines

I moved to NYC to illustrate, but the market was shrinking and going to photography (ahem) and I was so intimidated by my heros - Antonio and Kenneth Paul Block, that I decided to switch over to fashion design. I worked with Calvin Klein, Perry Ellis, Sean Combs, Bill Blass, J.Crew...it was a good career, but my passion was still drawing.

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RICHARD HAINES studied fine art and graphic arts at Virginia's Commonwealth University (VCU). Nowadays, you'll find Richard Haines seated front row at Fashion Week’s most desirable shows busily sketching. He often refers to New York City "as an endless runway"; befitting of a man who moved to the big city to pursue illustration, became a successful fashion designer, and who has come full circle as one of today’s most sought after fashion illustrators.

Haines work is regularly seen in the pages of InStyle Magazine and his popular must-see blog, What I Saw Today, which features his personal and professional work, has received accolades from respected critics at Paper Magazine, New York Magazine, men.style.com, refinery29.com and getkempt.com, to name just a few. "I thought if I started a blog of what I saw around me, it would be a good way of showing what was going on...the rest is, as they say, history. The response to my illustration has been beyond my wildest dreams." In July 2009, Haines had his first solo exhibition in New York City.

February 4th-18th, artist Richard Haines 'Behind The Scenes' illustrations and unpublished sketches will be exhibited at PENNYBLACK c. so Vittorio Emanuele ang. Piazza Libety, 2 in Milano, Italy. PENNYBLACK MAGALOG

RICHARD HAINES WHAT I SAW TODAY