Thumbsucker [Paperback]

Todd Cole (Photographer), Ed Templeton (Photographer), Mark Borthwick (Photographer), Ryan McGinley (Author), Mike Mills (Author), Takashi Homma (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 30, 1899

"Justin Cobb, the main character of Mike Mills's directorial debut, is still sucking his thumb at 17. He wants to stop, but when he finally does--thanks to hypnotherapy administered by his new-age orthodontist, played by Keanu Reeves--it throws his life and his family's into complete disarray. Thumbsucker, which documents the eponymous film's production, is art in itself, packed with work from a group of super-hip, internationally known young photographers including Takashi Homma, Ed Templeton, Todd Cole, Mark Borthwick and Ryan McGinley. The art scene it records is close kin to that presented by the recent Iconoclast bestseller Beautiful Losers, this time offering readers a hit of the Lower East Side's aesthetic and social life by way of Hollywood. If Thumbsucker the film offers an honest and funny look at those who feel deeply flawed, both in youth and middle age, Thumbsucker the photo book offers an honest and funny behind-the-scenes look at the heartbreaking and uplifting process of producing such a project. With an introduction from Tilda Swinton, who stars--in both movie and book--alongside Vincent D'Onofrio, Benjamin Bratt and Vince Vaughn."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Growing up, Mike Mills was sure he was going to be a pro skater. Then he got into Cooper Union, found an internship at the groundbreaking design firm, M&Co., and began the design work that would lead to the famous X-Girl logo; skateboard graphics for Supreme, Stereo and Subliminal; scarves and fabrics for Marc Jacobs; fashion related graphics for Esprit and The Gap; Sonic Youth album covers; and a slew of music video directing credits including the Beastie Boys, Beck and Air. Several independent shorts later, he has set up shop with Roman and Sophia Coppola at The Directoris Bureau. In 2005 his first feature, an adaptation of Walter Kirnsis novel Thumbsucker,was released.

"Ed Templeton was born in Orange County, California, in 1972. His parents divorced when he was eight. At age 13 he was introduced to skateboarding, which he credits with changing the course of his life forever. With a month left of high school, he dropped out to start skateboarding professionally in 1990. Soon after, his first trip to Europe significantly changed his worldview, clarifying a love/hate relationship with his hometown that continues to be a source for his work. Templeton started Toy Machine Bloodsucking Skateboard Company in 1993. His first solo exhibition took place in 1994 at Aaron Rose's Alleged Gallery in New York. In 1995 he took up photography in earnest. His first book of photographs, Teenage Smokers, 1999, from Alleged Press, won the $50,000 first prize in the 2000 ""Search for Art"" in Milan. In 2002 his second book of photographs, The Golden Age of Neglect, was published by Drago in conjunction with an exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. More recently, his work was featured in the bestselling Beautiful Losers, published by Iconoclast. Templeton currently lives and works in Huntington Beach, California, and continues to exhibit, run Toy Machine and skate professionally."

Takashi Homma, born in Tokyo in 1962, studied photography at Nihon University College of Art but left in 1984 to take a job as an in-house photographer at a Tokyo advertising agency. In 1991, he moved to London to work as a photographer for i-D magazine. In 1998, he was awarded a Kimura Ihei Commemorative Photography Award for the project Tokyo Suburbia (1998). Homma currently lives in Tokyo.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Iconoclast; First Edition edition (December 30, 1899)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977061000
• ISBN-13: 978-0977061006
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #878,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)