Publisher's Synopsis
Heroes: A Tribute pays homage to fifty brilliant, creative figures who were early victims of AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses. Through captivating, three-dimensional portraits that reflect core aspects of each individual, artist Doug Meyer celebrates the lives and accomplishments of pioneers from the worlds of art, design, film, and dance - people such as Robert Mapplethorpe, Keith Haring, Rudolph Nureyev, Freddie Mercury, Rock Hudson, John Duka, Tina Chow, Klaus Nomi, Halston, and Angelo Donghia. In addition to honoring the individuals portrayed, Meyer hopes to highlight their contributions for younger generations. Heroes began as an installation at a DIFFA (Design Industry Foundation to Fight AIDS) event, and grew into a traveling exhibition. The portraits vary significantly in form, material, and style, and incorporate drawing, painting, sculpture, and photography. Meyer often blends techniques and media, such as terracotta, eglomise, papier-mache, and computer-generated collage. The text includes essays by Meyer and contributing writer Beth Dunlop as well as short biographies of each hero. The book is printed in multiple papers with pops of neon color and painted edges, echoing the artist's work. All volumes are stamped, signed, and numbered by the artist and include a stand-alone print of the fifty-first hero.
