Cinema buffs and other romantics could reproach George Lucas, the creator of the “Star Wars” saga and also the creator of the “Indiana Jones” series, for a few things despite his immense impact on pop culture: For example, the fact that as a screenwriter he is responsible for some awkward dialogue, that he went overboard with Star Wars merchandising, or that he didn’t stop at the first three films in the saga. But what you definitely cannot deny the director, producer and entrepreneur, born in Modesto, California, in 1944, is an outstanding visual fantasy, his flair for creating fairy-tale worlds – even the much-criticized second trilogy (episodes I to III) is fascinating in this regard.
If a man with such an accomplished eye becomes aware of a visual artist, then it is definitely a (Jedi) accolade. Robert Bailey’s aeronautical art and aviation scenes from World War I and II were particularly popular with Lucas, who discovered them while surfing the net, and after a meeting at the Skywalker Ranch he asked the illustrator and photographer, who was born in England in 1947, to come to his Magnificent volume “Star Wars Visions” to work with. Since he artistically implemented the characters and worlds from the “Star Wars” cosmos, Bailey, who has lived in Canada for a long time, has been known to Star Wars fans. His pencil drawings, which were collected by Harrison Ford, John Travolta, Carrie Fisher and Tom Cruise, among others, have so far mainly been accessible to North American fans.
This year, however, Bailey’s works will be presented in Germany for the first time and Holger and Barbara Weinstock from Galerie Kersten have seized the opportunity to show them in Brunnthal. The opening is on this Saturday: “We are only the second gallery in Germany to do this makes “, says Holger Weinstock. Without exception, they are unique pieces, pencil drawings on paper – with a few specifically used color accents as eye-catchers. “The quality of the drawing is sensational,” enthuses Weinstock.
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Spaceships, stormtroopers, Darth Vader …
Image: Claus Schunk
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and a sustainable Han Solo.
Image: Claus Schunk
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Holger Weinstock presents the diversity of the space saga.
Image: Claus Schunk
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In fact, the works, which are supplemented in Brunnthal with a selection of brightly colored portraits of Marvel superheroes, are not only real eye-catchers for fans. On the one hand, it is characterized by a dynamic and liveliness that is achieved through the fine drawing virtuosity. On the other hand, Bailey manages to create large-scale scenes like in the picture “Grand Inspection”, which shows the totalitarian aesthetic framed arrival of Darth Vader in the Death Star (from “Return of the Jedi Knights”), through accomplished artistic composition an almost cinematic widescreen feeling in the viewer . Last but not least, the love of detail is convincing, every single imperial Stormtrooper has plasticity here, as it were.
The selection, which is shown in the Kersten Gallery – and is authorized by Lucasfilm and Disney – deals largely with characters and scenes from the first three films (episodes IV to VI), the classics of the series. Luke Skywalker can of course also be seen, but Darth Vader – his actor David Prowse died a few days ago – and Han Solo are more often the subjects of Bailey’s work. “Hesitant Hero” (Hesitant Hero) is impressive, an image that captures Han Solo, embodied by Harrison Ford, in a pensive moment in front of an X-wing that makes the otherwise cool and sarcastic space cowboy appear almost philosophical. Also nice is the picture in which the mercenary Boba Fett puts his weapon on Han Solo in the background (“Awaiting a Fate”). You can also see dynamically collaged battle scenes in space or on the ice planet Hoth or a picture of Yoda and Senator Palpatine alias Imperator wielding a lightsaber. Bailey occasionally manages to capture spontaneity and movement with an almost absorbent effect in his precisely worked out image scenes – so to speak, like the tractor beam of the Death Star.
Most of the time it is not precisely recorded scenes from the films, but rather multi-layered and deeply composed improvisations that nonetheless always establish an aesthetic reference to the origin. The idea of designing these scenes with pencil and a few color accents resulted in the illustrative character being sublimated without suspicion of kitsch – a danger that is already averted by the form of the technical drawing.
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Stan Lee is considered the mastermind behind the success of Marvel Comics. His most famous character is Spiderman and he is also honored in Brunnthal.
Image: Claus Schunk
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There is also a Star Wars scene with the star destroyer and Darth Vader’s interceptor.
Image: Claus Schunk
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Anyone who messes with the muscleman Hulk runs the risk of being beaten green and blue.
Image: Claus Schunk
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“They are pictures with an artistic value,” says Weinstock, who knows the first films but is not a proven fan. Nevertheless, the well-networked gallery owner did not miss the opportunity to present this retrospective – as the only gallery in the Munich area. “It’s something special.”
As for the world of Marvel superheroes, he and his wife Barbara are not exactly experts either, but the colorful and pop-art-like explosiveness of the portrayed characters, fights and covers contrasts nicely with Bailey’s drawings. The protagonists of the Marvel Universe, who with their superhuman powers save the world from ruin, are honored above all on the first floor of the gallery: Spider-Man, Captain America, Dr. Strange, Wolverine, Thor or the green muscleman Hulk are presented in different ways, but always highly dynamic, with comic-like force and sometimes with a hidden love of (self-) irony. Several unique items are among them, including by the well-known comic artist Randy Martinez. There is also a small homage there for Stan Lee (1922 to 2018), the “Godfather of Marvel” as Holger Weinstock calls him. Together with illustrators such as Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he created a number of famous superheroes such as Spider-Man as a comic writer and editor, who were so successful with audiences not least because of their human weaknesses and ambivalences. Lee’s favorite draftsman is said to have been Robert Bailey.
The exhibition “Star Wars and Marvel Comics” in the Kersten Gallery, Otterloher Straße 6, Brunnthal, lasts from December 5 to January 16, 2021. On this Saturday, visitors can come to the gallery between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You will be guided through the exhibition in compliance with the applicable distance and hygiene rules. Registration is not required.
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