Customer Reviews

Fabio Paleari: The Leu Family's Family Iron

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The family photo on the cover attracted me immediately, and then with each page I felt like I became part of the family. This is a "family album" of wonderful, hippie artists, living a life of art and travel. Their love for one another, and for their art, jumps off the pages. This is especially the case in the images near the end of the book of the family patriarch, Felix, living and working with cancer. Incrediblely powerful.

One previous review mentions the quality of the images; more important is the quality of the life, a life lived fully.

How can one best describe this book? Its subject matter is the famous Leu family of Switzerland and their tattooing. However, "The Leu Family's Family Iron" is above all a book of art photographs produced by Fabio Paleari during a period of ten years' association with the family. And, perhaps even more important, it is a journey to wondrous worlds, worlds defined by Eastern and Western cultures as refracted through the unique lens that is the lifestyle of the Leus. The prose in this coffee-table sized book totals no more than a dozen or so pages and provides few intellectual distractions. In some books this might be seen as a shortcoming, but here we are freed to react emotionally and intuitively to the imaginative work shown.

Of course, one should not close a review of this book without reference to the tattooing style of the Leus. Some full-body designs are drawn from the traditional lexicon of Japan, but it is where the Leus depart from the this model (either in style or coloration) that the results are most interesting. A number of years spent in India are reflected in the use of both Sanskrit characters and the style of popular Indian decoration. Other images bring to mind the artwork of the Fauvists, of Peter Max, and of that large body of artists currently illustrating fantasy texts. Finally, it is worth noting that the living quarters of the Leus are fascinating in and of themselves, reminding us of the Baroque Age's cabinets of curiosities.

The Leu Familys Family Iron is more than just another book about tattoos. For everyone who is into tattoos it is no doubt that the Leus are excellent tattoo artists. Some of the pictures in the book give a glimpse of what they can do. But more than that this book creates an atmosphere. It shows people who live a certain kind of lifestyle. Tattoos are just a part of it. By watching the book you can take part. Its kind of a journey through life and death but always expressing a very strong confidence. I can recommend this book to everyone who sees more in tattoos than just fashion- its kind of a lifestyle...

I'm very glad having this book home, but to be really true you should await certain flaws. Some pictures are blurry and some photos are not very well taken, givin an overall of home taken pictures sometimes. By the way this fact gives, I think, a closer look upon the renowned Leu's Iron Family.
As a tattoo and Philip Leu fan I really enjoy to look over and over this book dedicated to his father "Felix Leu".
This book paper quality is awesome it should last for years.

Amazing photography can just barely aputre the subtlety and nuance of these people and their craft. A must have for any tattoo afficiando, or for those fascinated by tattoo taken beyond art and into a way of life.

The Leu family are an incredably inspiring lot. This book catapults the reader into a crazy rock n roll world of art and freedom. It is my favourite coffee table book of all time.
GET IT.

This book is beautifully photographed, filled with interesting stories and shared experiences of the Infamous Tattooing Leu family based in Lausanne, Swiss.