David Bowie: Early Years with Con Chrisoulis

Description

In this in-depth video interview with Maggiore on Bowie, one of the most prominent Bowie-focused blogs, Con Chrisoulis discusses Rebel Rebel, his ambitious graphic biography chronicling the formative years of David Bowie. The interview explores Chrisoulis’s rigorous research process, which prioritizes primary sources—archival interviews, contemporaneous media, and firsthand accounts—to reconstruct a nuanced and historically grounded portrait of Bowie’s early life and artistic evolution.

Chrisoulis reflects on the challenges of reconciling conflicting narratives and translating them into a coherent visual timeline, as well as his distinctive “method drawing” approach to depicting undocumented moments with emotional authenticity. The discussion also highlights his hybrid creative practice, combining traditional illustration techniques with digital refinement, and examines how visual storytelling can bridge biography, journalism, and art.

Focusing on Bowie’s pre-fame years—marked by experimentation, identity formation, and pivotal personal experiences—the interview positions Rebel Rebel as both a scholarly and artistic endeavour, offering fresh insight into the origins of one of the most influential figures in modern music.

Subject

Rebel Rebel, my practice-based research project / graphic biography that chronicles the formative years of David Bowie.