Fragile Flowers

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Since the early 90s, Richard Hawkins has developed a collage practice rooted in the cut-up legacy of Brion Gysin, exploring the collapsed myths of American counter-culture. For Hawkins, collage serves as a medium for doublings, expansions, and the ephemeral, becoming the foundation of his diverse oeuvre, which includes paintings, sculptures, assemblages, fiction, poetry, and curated shows. His work is characterized by a voyeuristic perspective, engaging with both classic and contemporary mythologies while indulging in the pleasures of desire. Hawkins's narratives and practices intertwine through shared indulgence and fascination, celebrating the beauty of figures like teenbeat star Matt Dillon, the influence of Lautréamont, and the dislocated gestures of Butoh founder Tatsumi Hijikata. His obsessions span a wide range, from Greek and Roman statuary to 19th-century French Decadent literature, Gustave Moreau's art, American Indian narratives, zombies, haunted houses, poststructuralist theory, and the sex trade in Thailand. This collection marks Hawkins' debut in fiction, featuring eight jubilatory and decadent short stories.