Roee Rosen
Lucy Is Sick (2020)
Coloring book

Distributed free of charge to inpatients and staff of LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz, limited edition available at the Paranoia TV Headquarters

Credits

Editing (English): David Riff
German Translation: Thomas Melle
Editing (German): Henriette Gallus
Layout: Grupa Ee

Commissioned and produced by steirischer herbst ’20

Distribution partner: Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m.b.H., LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz

With the kind support of Artis

Lucy first appeared nearly thirty years ago as the decidedly hetero-male enfant terrible protagonist of an early artist book by Roee Rosen. In this early book, as in many later ones of Rosen’s to follow, poignant and labyrinthine literary texts accompany fine pen drawings, featuring Lucy as a dandyish younger relative of Max and Moritz (who appear in his thoughts). Now, nearly three decades later, Lucy is back and he is sick. In this coloring book made for Paranoia TV, Rosen follows his protagonist’s encounter with a rare and painful form of bone cancer. In short, surreal literary episodes, he delves into the effects the different stages of illness have on his body, his mind, and his relationships. These texts, translated into German by acclaimed author Thomas Melle, are accompanied by elaborate black-and-white drawings that lead into a labyrinth of illness, just as coloring them might provide an exit from the inevitable boredom that illness and treatment entail. The coloring book for Paranoia TV is the first chapter of a larger literary project, which will eventually lead to a full-length book. In cooperation with the Landeskrankenhaus Universitätsklinikum Graz, it is presented to in-patients during the festival. A limited edition with crayons is available at the Paranoia TV Headquarters.

Bio

Roee Rosen (1963, Rehovot, Israel) is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and filmmaker. His highly literary and densely visual films, paintings, installations, and books frequently feature invented figures and controversially address taboo zones in 20th-century history as well as contemporary political reality. He lives in Tel Aviv.

Credits

Editing (English): David Riff
German Translation: Thomas Melle
Editing (German): Henriette Gallus
Layout: Grupa Ee

Commissioned and produced by steirischer herbst ’20

Distribution partner: Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m.b.H., LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz

With the kind support of Artis

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