Fabian Fröhlich | Fantastische Illustrationen | Fantastic Illustrations

Illustrations for poems & lyrics

Illustrations for Poems by Christian Dörge, 1995

 

Christian Dörge, Elektra 1

The then planned book, a collaboration with the the musician and writer Christian Dörge , was never realized. Some of the drawings were printed in fanzines, most of them remained unpublished.

To get the white lines on black background I drew the negative images with black ink on white paper and inverted the scanned drawings with Photoshop (back in the 90’s I used a laser copying machine to achieve the same result).

 

Two more drawings for a Text by Christian Dörge hier.

 


Artwork for the CD Intimacy by Psyche, 1993

Intimacy: Lyrics: Darrin C. Huss, Layout: Marianne von Allesch (SPV Graphics), © SPV Recordings, 1994; Misguided Angels: © Artoffact Records, 2000

 
Psyche are a Canadian dark synth-pop band, now based in Germany. In the 80’s they became well known with “Unveiling the Secret” and other songs. Psyche are centered on singer Darrin C. Huss who has been the only constant member, with various line-ups including his brother Stephen Huss, later followed by other musicians. Darrin used to live in Kassel for a while where I got to know him in 1993.

The collaboration for the album Intimacy was of huge importance for me because, amongst other reasons, I knew and loved the album Unveiling the Secret since the late 80’s. To draw the illustrations, I had the lyrics, but I don’t remember if I knew the music yet. In 2000 three drawings were re-used for the specially-compiled Canadian release Misguided Angels.

Psyche website
Psyche discography

 


Two Illustrations for “Erlkönig” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe, 1993


“‘Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nicht dort
Erlkönigs Töchter am düstern Ort?’ —
‘Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh es genau:
Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau. —’

‘Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt;
Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt.’ —
‘Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt faßt er mich an!
Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids getan!’

aus Johann Wofgang von Goethe, “Erlkönig”, 1782

“And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted – nevermore!”

aus Edgar Allan Poe,”The Raven”, 1844

 

The illustrations for „Erlkönig“ and „The Raven“ were private comissions; they were published in the literary magazine Dandelion No. 3 in 1993.

 


Drawings and Sonetts, 1992/93

In the early 90s I wrote round about ten poems to be published in fanzines, usually combined with a drawing. They are not so much deeply-felt expressions of emotion as exercises in constructing proper sonetts, quite symbolist and a little bit cheesy.


HYPNOS

Nebelgleich dem Grund entstiegen,
dunklen Quellen, nie benannt,
wie ein Bild von fremder Hand.
Nacht im Kopf. Ein Traum vom Fliegen.

Dunkelheit, zur Form geronnen,
schwingenschlagend, ungezähmt
(Widerstand vom Schlaf gelähmt),
kostet Freiheit, neu gewonnen.

Längst verlassen ist der enge
Käfig, knöchernes Gestänge
bleibt zurück, an Geistes statt;

ohne Leben, das gefangen
ihn beseelte, ist vergangen,
was vom Tod getrennt ihn hat.

 

Blut

Hinter bleichen Mauern, fest und scheinbar fugenlos gebaut,
pocht pulsierend Leben in verzweigten Bahnen;
rote Glut, in Weiß gehüllt und nur zu ahnen,
dringt durch alle Poren. Sanftes Glühen makelloser Haut.

Unsichtbare Lockung aus des Fleisches Tiefe, warm und schwer,
dringt an Licht und lässt den Vorbehalt vergessen,
weckt die Gier und macht besinnungslos besessen;
dumpfer Trieb erhebt sich, überflutet jede Gegenwehr.

Ihre Muskeln, Sehnen straff gespannt und Seilen gleich,
voll Erwartung; festes Fleisch, wie schneebedeckt, so weich,
dargeboten, wartend auf den dunklen Kuss, den letzten.

Zärtlich wird die bleiche Wand durchstoßen, und der Quell
bahnt sich neue Wege, frei geworden, wild und schnell,
über meine Lippen, die vom Lebensfluss benetzten.

 

 


Drawings for “Ich-Maschine” by Christian Dörge, 1992


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
More illustrations for poems by Christian Dörge here.