Chad Michael Ward’s “Autopsyrotica” was one of the most interesting art books that’s had crossed my desk in a long time.  Darkly haunting, viscerally intimidating, Wards blend of digital photography and art overstepped all boundaries.  Ward is now back with his latest visual indulgence entitled “Devilengine” published by NBM.  The digital art medium has given birth to a new generation of genius artists who create well outside the normal confinements of fantasy art and Ward is among the leaders.  Part horror, part erotica, and part fantasy, his work shuns traditional labels and stands on its own…it just…IS!

Devilengine is 80 pages of decadent, and often unearthly delights that terrify even has they mesmerize the viewer.  The first piece to catch my eye is the demonic “The Unholy Trinity.”  The face of a Catholic priest is photographed with three distinct expressions, each showing another level of savagery, and then morphed together as one giving the subject three perfectly blended faces.

Angels and demons play a central role in Wards art but he puts his own special perspective on them, humanizing them to a degree that often makes them more imposing.  “The Ethernaut” gives us a shining angel which nearly blinds the reader with her shimmering hair and luminescent silver gloves and breastplate.  The book includes art that Ward has done for numerous projects including DVD cover art, gaming book covers, and more.  Ward’s art can probably sucker you into renting even the lowest grade B movie.

The final chapter are untitled pieces of perhaps his darkest, yet most enthralling work.  These include nude photography that is the anti-glamour response to typical art collections.  These women are dangerous and yet powerfully seductive.  The model called Cenopussy is shown spattered in what we will assume is buckets of blood with her fingers down her throat as if she’s gobbling down the last bit of something…or someone…Deviengine may not be for everyone, but for those with a taste for the dark side of things and a truly talented artist, this is one you must not miss.  $18.95 from NBM

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 5th, 2007 at 7:38 pm and is filed under Books, Comics, Horror, Tim Janson. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.