At the Andrew Edlin Gallery, one of the world’s most famous recluses comes to light. Chicago’s Henry Darger was a janitor by day and the architect of a universe by night. The more than 14,000 pages of paintings, drawings, and writing discovered by his landlord at the time of his death detailed the epic battle waged against evil by his (usually penis-studded) legion of young Vivian (Catholic school) girls. The works are as playful as they are uncanny. Darger often sifted through trash in search of magazines and newspapers to incorporate in his creation. The result is an arresting bricolage of real and fantastic.

The show is expertly curated in a space that allows viewers to circle double sided panels hung slightly lower than expected--at little girl height perhaps?  Darger’s works are also complemented by a small room of large photographs taken of the interior of his small flat. In this most unusual of cases, the pictures just go to show that at times context can render art even more incomprehensible.

- Sophia Powers

(*Image: Henry Darger, Darger Discoveries, March 28 - June 7, 2008; Andrew Edlin Gallery, Rangers of Miss Jennie Turner Regiment, watercolor and pencil on paper, 8 x 12 in, Image © Kiyoko Lerner, Courtesy Andrew Edlin Gallery. Henry Darger, Darger Discoveries, March 28 - June 7, 2008; Andrew Edlin Gallery, Darger Discoveries Installation view, Courtesy Andrew Edlin Gallery. Henry Darger, Darger Discoveries, March 28 - June 7, 2008; Andrew Edlin Gallery, Darger Discoveries Installation view, Courtesy Andrew Edlin Gallery.)