Harland Miller Artwork: Harland Miller is a British artist and writer who stands out in the contemporary art scene for his original and irreverent approach. His works are large-scale paintings that reproduce book covers from the Penguin publishing house, featuring fictional titles that blend humor, irony, and literary references.
In this article, we will explore the literary wit that characterizes Harland Miller artwork, analyzing his biography, style, and inspiration.
Short Biography of Harland Miller
Harland Miller was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1964. From an early age, he developed an interest in literature and art, influenced by his father, an avid reader and book collector. Miller attended the Chelsea School of Art in London, where he graduated in painting. He then moved to New York, where he worked as a ghostwriter for an art magazine. He also traveled the world, experiencing different cultures and perspectives.
In 2000, Miller published his first novel, titled “Slow Down Arthur, Stick to Thirty,” which tells the story of a young man involved with a David Bowie impersonator. The book was well-received by both critics and the public, drawing comparisons to works by authors like J.D. Salinger and Nick Hornby. In the same year, Miller released his second novel, “First I Was Afraid, I Was Petrified,” a study of obsessive-compulsive disorder based on a collection of hundreds of Polaroids taken by one of Miller’s relatives, all depicting turned-off oven knobs.
Despite his success as a writer, Miller never abandoned his passion for painting. In 2002, he held his first solo exhibition, showcasing his paintings of Penguin book covers. These works became his signature style, establishing him as one of the most original and innovative artists of his generation.
The Iconic World of Harland Miller
Harland Miller’s paintings are inspired by the covers of Penguin Books, which were created in the 1930s by designer Edward Young. These covers have become icons of British culture for their simplicity, elegance, and functionality. Also, they followed a color and typography pattern that varied according to the literary genre.
Miller appropriated these covers and transformed them into large-scale canvases, replacing the original titles with phrases of his own creation expressing feelings, thoughts, and provocations. These phrases are often sarcastic, humorous, or melancholic, creating a contrast with the classic design of the covers. Some of Miller’s most famous phrases include: “I’m So Fucking Hard,” “Death, What’s In It For Me?”, “Incurable Romantic Seeks Dirty Filthy Whore,” “Don’t Let the Bastards Cheer You Up,” among others.
Miller’s works capture the audience’s attention through the combination of visual and literary elements, creating a dialogue between art and words. Furthermore, they provoke reflection on the role of books in contemporary society, marked by consumption, technology, and information. Miller explores nostalgia, memory, and identity through a language that is both familiar and surprising.
MILLER, HARLAND, LOVE SAVES THE DAY, 2014
“Love Saves The Day” is a painting by the British artist and writer Harland Miller, created in 2014. The painting is part of his series inspired by the covers of Penguin Books, which are icons of British culture. Miller uses acrylic and oil paints on canvas, creating an aging and worn effect reminiscent of old books. He also employs typography as a pictorial element.
The phrase Miller writes on the cover is “Love Saves The Day,” which can have various meanings depending on the viewer’s interpretation. It could be a message of hope, optimism, irony, sarcasm, humor, criticism, etc. Miller uses words as a means of expressing his feelings, thoughts, and provocations.
Miller’s work stands out for its combination of visual and literary elements, creating a dialogue between art and words. Furthermore, it prompts reflection on the role of books in contemporary society, marked by consumption, technology, and information. Miller explores nostalgia, memory, and identity through a language that is both familiar and surprising.
Literature is a constant source of inspiration for Miller’s art, as he is an avid reader and a talented writer. He uses literature as a means to express his worldview, critique reality, and pay homage to his favorite authors. Miller states that his work is a form of “painting with words.”
Among the literary works that have influenced his art, we can mention those of Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac, F. Scott Fitzgerald, J.D. Salinger, Charles Bukowski, Sylvia Plath, among others. These authors are known for depicting themes such as love, loneliness, rebellion, anguish, and death with a direct, poetic, and impactful language. Miller identifies with these authors and pays tribute to them in his paintings, creating titles that allude to their works or lives.
For instance, Miller titled one of his paintings “On Me Not In Me,” referencing the phrase “Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know,” spoken by Hemingway in an interview. Another painting, a parody of Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye,” is titled “Who Cares Wins.” Additionally, there’s a painting named “Rags to Polyester,” alluding to Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”
Technique and Artistic Style
Miller’s technique and artistic style are characterized by his skill in faithfully and uniquely reproducing the covers of Penguin Books. He uses acrylic and oil paints on canvas, applying layers of colors and textures that create an aging and worn effect. Additionally, he employs typography as a pictorial element that harmonizes with the background and frame.
Miller utilizes a varied color palette, ranging from pastel tones to vibrant hues. He selects colors based on the mood and meaning of the phrases he writes. For instance, he may use red to express passion, violence, or danger, blue to convey tranquility, melancholy, or coldness, yellow to signify joy, optimism, or irony, and so forth.
Miller’s works stand out for their expressiveness and literary wit, revealing his personality and creativity. He manages to create a unique universe that engages with tradition and innovation, challenging the conventions and expectations of the audience.
Harland Miller Artwork: Conclusion
In conclusion, Harland Miller emerges as a prominent figure in the contemporary art scene, distinguished by his original and irreverent approach. His large-scale paintings, reproducing covers of Penguin Books, are works that transcend the boundaries between visual art and literature, infused with humor, irony, and literary references.
As a whole, Harland Miller’s works surpass conventional barriers in contemporary art, challenging norms and expectations. His ability to create a dialogue between tradition and innovation, coupled with a profound reflection on the role of the book in modern society, solidifies his place as one of the most original and innovative artists of his generation. Miller, with a language that is both familiar and surprising, invites us to explore the limits of creativity and dive into a universe rich in literary and visual reflections.
