BRAD FOREVER. THE THING ISSUE 14. 2012. HAND MADE BY FRANCO.

N.p.: The Thing, 2012
Printed custom cardboard box with foam packing – content of a 18 x 14cm (approx) self standing plastic and glass mirror, an original 7 x 5cm, colour photograph and a 21 x 18cm, 8pp leporello brochure/poster with b/w images of Brad Renfro as well as James Franco being cut on the arm with the name Brad to create a permanent tattoo. The cuts were made with a switchblade by tattooer Mark Mahoney. The mirror has the words “Brad Forever” handwritten by Franco on the glass using pink lipstick. Renfro who was an actor who was picked from obscurity because of hsi OG background, died of a heroin overdose in 2008; he was 25. Franco has created performaance art works about his fellow actor. The limitaiton of the multiple is not known but it was not large and each is unique because of Franco’s fragile lipstick addition to the mirror. Rather poignant and beautiful – Renfro is forever young in the photograph. The work not only commemorates the youthful death but reminds one of young love and the often remarked upon beauty of an early death.