8 episodes

How did Henry Darger, a janitor who lived as an outcast and died anonymously in 1973, become an internationally acclaimed figure of outsider art? His incredible story sheds light on multiple issues including how we define and identify artists, the complex relationship between mental health and creativity, as well as the question of elitism in the world of art. OUTSIDER is a seven-part podcast series in which musician Philippe Cohen Solal addresses these issues and explores Henry Darger’s life in conversation with scholars, artists and art curators. With narrator Geoffrey CareyThis podcast accompanies the release of the OUTSIDER album by Philippe Cohen Solal & Mike Lindsay featuring Hannah Peel and Adam Glover. The album is available here: http://smarturl.it/outsiderdarger
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OUTSIDER, the amazing story of Henry Darger Philippe Cohen Solal

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 3 Ratings

How did Henry Darger, a janitor who lived as an outcast and died anonymously in 1973, become an internationally acclaimed figure of outsider art? His incredible story sheds light on multiple issues including how we define and identify artists, the complex relationship between mental health and creativity, as well as the question of elitism in the world of art. OUTSIDER is a seven-part podcast series in which musician Philippe Cohen Solal addresses these issues and explores Henry Darger’s life in conversation with scholars, artists and art curators. With narrator Geoffrey CareyThis podcast accompanies the release of the OUTSIDER album by Philippe Cohen Solal & Mike Lindsay featuring Hannah Peel and Adam Glover. The album is available here: http://smarturl.it/outsiderdarger
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Trailer

    Trailer

    A self-taught writer and visual artist, Henry Darger was a man with an extremely prolific, yet secretive career. His life’s work was almost lost, discovered by his landlords only months before he died. Philippe Cohen Solal introduces OUTSIDER, the amazing story of Henry Darger, a seven-part podcast series about Henry Darger, his life, his art and his legacy. 
    This podcast series was created by Philippe Cohen Solal, written by Clémentine Spiler and produced by César Depouilly for ¡Ya Basta! Records. Illustration : Gabriel Jacquel. Narrated by Geoffrey Carey.
    OUTSIDER is an album by Philippe Cohen Solal & Mike Lindsay featuring Hannah Peel and Adam Glover. 
    It’s available here : http://smarturl.it/outsiderdarger

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 3 min
    The discovery

    The discovery

    When Henry Darger moved into a nursing home a few months before he passed away in 1973, his landlords, Kiyoko and Nathan Lerner, found over 30 000 pages of writing and 300 paintings in his apartment. Not only did this discovery save Henry Darger’s life’s work from destruction, it also changed the Lerners’ life forever. In this episode, Philippe Cohen Solal invites Kiyoko Lerner to reminisce about her former tenant, the uncovering of his art and to reflect on the many ways it impacted her and her late husband’s lives. Betsy Fuchs, who used to be Henry Darger’s neighbor also joins the discussion.
    This podcast series was created by Philippe Cohen Solal, written by Clémentine Spiler and produced by César Depouilly for ¡Ya Basta! Records. Illustration : Gabriel Jacquel.
    Excerpts of “History of My life” by Henry Darger told by Geoffrey Carey

    OUTSIDER is an album by Philippe Cohen Solal & Mike Lindsay featuring Hannah Peel and Adam Glover. 
    It’s available here : http://smarturl.it/outsiderdarger

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 27 min
    What is outsider art?

    What is outsider art?

    What makes Henry Darger an outsider artist? In this episode, Philippe Cohen Solal discusses the label and the artistic movement with Debra Kerr, President and CEO of Intuit, the Center of Intuitive and Outsider Art in Chicago. Together they dive into Henry Darger’s visual works and analyse his very particular creative process. 
    This podcast series was created by Philippe Cohen Solal, written by Clémentine Spiler and produced by César Depouilly for ¡Ya Basta! Records. Illustration : Gabriel Jacquel. Special thanks to Geoffrey Carey for reading excerpts of Henry Darger’s written works.
    OUTSIDER is an album by Philippe Cohen Solal & Mike Lindsay featuring Hannah Peel and Adam Glover. 
    Available here : http://smarturl.it/outsiderdarger

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 22 min
    Darger's story

    Darger's story

    At the age of 12, Henry Darger was sent to a mental institution. The diagnosis was “self abuse”. He was one of many children to be sent away, mainly for being poor and uncared for, and possibly for being a homosexual. The abuse he witnessed and presumably suffered at the Asylum left him scarred for life. In this episode, Philippe Cohen Solal and biographers Michael Bonesteel and Jim Elledge discuss Henry Darger’s childhood and how trauma shaped his art.
    Content warning : Please note this episode includes mentions of child abuse, physical and sexual violence. It can be triggering for some and inappropriate for younger listeners. 
    This podcast series was created by Philippe Cohen Solal, written by Clémentine Spiler and produced by César Depouilly for ¡Ya Basta! Records. Illustration : Gabriel Jacquel. Excerpts of “History of My life” and the weather journals of Henry Darger told by Geoffrey Carey.
    OUTSIDER is an album by Philippe Cohen Solal & Mike Lindsay featuring Hannah Peel and Adam Glover. 
    Listen to the album here : http://smarturl.it/outsiderdarger

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 32 min
    The Vivian Girls

    The Vivian Girls

    “In the Realms of the Unreal” is Henry Darger’s masterpiece. A 15 000 pages novel, which he later transposed to hundreds of paintings. In this imaginary world, seven sisters who go by the name of the Vivian Girls lead the rebellion of enslaved children against adult men. Darger often draws the Vivian Girls naked and sometimes with male genitalia. His obsessive and subversive representation of little girls was often met with backlash, some critics even calling him a paedophile. In this episode, art historian Leisa Rundquist analyses Henry Darger’s portrayal of girlhood as perhaps one of the most misunderstood aspects of his art.
    This podcast series was created by Philippe Cohen Solal, written by Clémentine Spiler and produced by César Depouilly for ¡Ya Basta! Records. Illustration : Gabriel Jacquel. Special thanks to Geoffrey Carey for reading excerpts of Henry Darger’s written works.
    OUTSIDER is an album by Philippe Cohen Solal & Mike Lindsay featuring Hannah Peel and Adam Glover. 
    It’s available here : http://smarturl.it/outsiderdarger

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 26 min
    Darger’s playlist

    Darger’s playlist

    All of the song lyrics featured on the OUTSIDER album were written by Henry Darger himself. The late artist was both a lyricist and great music lover. In this episode, Philippe Cohen Solal dissects Henry Darger’s taste in music, and is joined by Mike Lindsay to discuss the creation of the OUTSIDER project. Both musicians reflect on their common desire to make an album that would become part of Darger’s legacy to the artistic world. 
    This podcast series was created by Philippe Cohen Solal, written by Clémentine Spiler and produced by César Depouilly for ¡Ya Basta! Records. Illustration : Gabriel Jacquel. Special thanks to Geoffrey Carey for reading excerpts of Henry Darger’s written works.
    OUTSIDER is an album by Philippe Cohen Solal & Mike Lindsay featuring Hannah Peel and Adam Glover. 
    It’s available here : http://smarturl.it/outsiderdarger

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 26 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
3 Ratings

3 Ratings

MeggyMoo28& ,

Touching!

Such a touching relation of an often forgotten story. Incredible guests who are highly educated and relay these tales and themes in accessible ways and through varying perspectives.

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