Meatphysics.
Published by Creation Books, 2003
A comparative journal for the Chapman Brothers' aesthetic work, MEATPHYSICS represents a shizoanalytical assault upon the hyperconscious idiocy of libertarian humanism. An attempt to dislodge critique from its authoritarian edifice by short circuiting the compulsion to dialectical reasoning.
Instead, MEATPHYSICS encounters its subject deliriously spiralling in and out of phase, merging fiction and theory, and combining a file corrupting literature-machine that contracts and expands without final cause. Vagrantly purposeless while attempting to exceed the limits of strict utility, MEATPHYSICS proposes a pessimistic model of apathetic repetition - 'a disease within the disease'; an atheological experiment conducted by the death drive, following the pathic route mapped by Freud in his declaration that 'the aim of all life is death'. "Human apperception is matter energy tortured - a dyspeptic ulcer cradling the necrotic substance of its irritation. Once the necrosis subsides, irritation deranges away toward zero, signalling perditious brain activity to cease... Amen
The Marriage of Reason and Squalor.
Published by FUEL, 2008
‘In his first work of fiction, artist Jake Chapman slashes the romantic novel down to bare bone and constructs his own disfigured version from the slaughtered remains. Chlamydia Love is gifted her very own tropical island by her fiancé, where she develops a grudging adoration for its real owner, the enigmatic bestselling author, Helmut Mandragorass. A battle between her fiancé and Helmut ensues, for ownership of the island and ultimately for the love of Chlamydia. This mercilessly subversive take is illustrated by Chlamydia’s watercolours entitled Visions of Morass, images inspired by the island as she struggles with her feelings of agony and ecstasy.’
"Jake Chapman rips off arms and hurls them against the glibness and facility that characterise contemporary literature, whether mass market or literary. His first novel is triumphantly, insanely, and beautifully unreadable – my eyes bled."
Will Self.
Memoirs of My Writer’s Block.
Published by FUEL, 2010
Following the success of his first novel, The Marriage of Reason and Squalor, artist Jake Chapman now focuses his malice on the calloused underbelly of literature itself.
In Memoirs of My Writer' Block, Chapman haunts the shady world of the professional ghost-writer, posing as fragile amateur scribbler Christabel Ludd, whose broken attempts at completing her novel are frustrated by an unshakeable writer's block.
In desperation she commissions a ragged collection of self proclaimed professionals to transform the rudimentary tale into a compelling page-turner - with breath-taking results. The story itself is that of Bao Xishun (once the world's tallest man), who uses his extremely long arms to fish pieces of plastic flotsam from the stomachs of some unfortunate dolphins, saving them from certain death. The bizarre narrative is made more so with each rewrite, from an 'ugly duckling' rendition through to a ‘horror' version. The book follows the crushing process of having to get your novel written by someone else. The author, wracked with creative energy, resorts to poetry in a desperate attempt to relieve the tension built up over months of waiting for other apparently more accomplished - writers to finish her story.
"I always suspected that Jake wasn't really an artist, having read this I suspect he's not a writer either."
Dinos Chapman
Introspastic: From the Blackened Beyond.
Published by FUEL
In his third novel, Jake Chapman returns to the parochial world of Chlamydia Love, the contagiously popular heroine from his first issue The Marriage of Reason and Squalor.
Charged by The Someday Times to establish the truth about the rumoured rift between the Chapman brothers, she ventures deep into the hollow heart of the Cotswolds to interrogate the taller one, inadvertently revealing less than she intended. Illustrated with works from his 'solo' exhibition, the book explores the value and meaning of art, laying bare the inner turmoil that ensues when an artist is required to work all by himself… Jake Chapman's latest novel has it all: love, loss, introspective nihilism plus breakdancing squirrels. Any reader seeking true insight into the fraternal bond at the heart of the Chapmans' misunderstood work will find this book a massively insincere obstacle.
"INTROSPASTIC will unite all sensitive readers in urging Chapman to give up the day job and take up his number one hobby full time - More, more, more!"
ROBIN MACKAY (Urbanomic)
2 + 2 = 5
Published by Urbanomic, 2021
George Orwell's flawed masterpiece finally receives a much-needed rectification, as Jake Chapman takes us on a bad trip into an atrocious alt- Eurasia-a nightmare utopia of 24/7 self-expression, mandatory wellbeing, yogic breathing and promiscuous empathy. Yippy wonks in open-toed sandals have ejected the evil capitalist overlords, compassion and charity reign supreme, buckwheat salad and artisan cashew cheese are in plentiful supply, and everyone strives to live their best life, all the time. Employed by the Ministry to rectify misfortunes issuing from a curious glitch in the system, Winston Smith's creative urges are unexpectedly awoken and he is driven to express his deepest place, voice and hurt through the medium of poetry. But what connects Winston's furtive scribblings in My Big Book of Me to the unpleasantnesses emanating from the deep glitch? Is Julia really the perfect kooky carefree playmate she seems to be? Can O'Brien be trusted? And when does the new season of Big Brother start..?
"An all-you-can-eat quinoa buffet of wrongthink, Chapman's twisted vision is a bracing reminder that dystopia is just wishful thinking, and that the worst can always get worster.
Like a wire basket containing rats, attached to the reader’s face, Chapman’s prose gnaws into you, until you give up resisting his minatory vision – and simply love him."
Will Self.