Uwe Lausen

Uwe Lausen, the "child prodigy," the artist who was successful at an early age, "ruined" by drugs, and "ennobled" by suicide, seems to fit the cliché of the tragically failed genius. But as effective as such a label may be for the public, it is of little help in dealing with the work and thinking of the artist, who, as a member of the Situationist International, was always very well informed. Anyone who wants to learn more about Lausen's multifaceted oeuvre and dazzling personality should read this meticulously researched and richly illustrated monograph, which shows why Lausen in particular has become an "artists' artist" whose works, as well as his seemingly uncompromising attitude, continue to fascinate artists to this day.