The first volume in a series that may last for decades.
Hello friends, Chris Rini here. I’m proud to share with you this sneak preview of my newest book, The Fine Art of Violence, Vol. 1.
This is a collection that spans from January 1st, 2019 to December 31st, 2019 and highlights the GOATs and greats of this era of MMA. It was a labor of love, and preliminary reviews of the book have been stellar.
With over 100 hand drawn illustrations of MMA athletes and fights, The Fine Art of Violence, Vol. 1 is the first book of its kind to present the often brutal action of mixed martial arts as fine art. Each of the book’s full color, black & white or charcoal illustrations were hand drawn by myself. Accompanying the illustrations are 10 short essays by author, writer and former Fightland editor-in-chief Josh Rosenblatt.
Rosenblatt wrote the well-received book Why We Fight: One Man’s Search for Meaning Inside the Ring in 2019, was editor-and-chief of Fightland, and his work has appeared in numerous publications over the years. Rosenblatt’s poignant prose adds written details to the book’s visual stories, expanding on the isolated moments by placing them within the larger narrative of fighters’ careers and lives.
As diverse as the sport itself, The Fine Art of Violence, Vol. 1 portrays female and male MMA athletes across 12 weight-classes. The subjects are shown locked in combat, isolated in portraits, performing fighting techniques, celebrating victory, or lying unconscious in defeat. The goal in illustrating The Fine Art of Violence, Vol. 1 is to showcase mixed martial artists telling their story through the movements of their bodies.
I have always felt that MMA suffers from its lack of a season. There’s no climax, no world series, no reset button. Just an relentless march forward to the next fight. Fans deserve better.
I want this book to become an touchstone within MMA, an annual collection that celebrates the fighters who made their mark and deserve to be remembered.
The Fine Art Of Violence is available at chrisrini.com as both a limited edition book, each copy signed and numbered, shipping worldwide or as a digital download.
Each chapter of the book is a weightclass. As a teaser for the book’s release, I’m sharing the welterweight division here on Bloody Elbow.
I hope you’ll pick up a copy and let me know how it makes you feel.
Thank you.
Chris Rini
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A visual artist who fell in love with MMA when Georges St. Pierre was first ascending the ranks of the UFC’s welterweight division, Chris Rini’s ability to combine mixed martial arts and fine art sets him apart as a unique talent. Chris is recurring columnist for Vox Media’s BloodyElbow.com where draws MMA Squared, the first and only MMA editorial cartoon. Chris was a regular contributor at Fightland, VICE media’s combat sports publication, and his work has been featured in galleries and on his website. He has plans for The Fine Art of Violence, Vol. 2, and is also illustrating a graphic novel. A lifelong New Yorker, Chris is currently rediscovering his passion for jiujitsu while also playing the roles of husband and father for his wife and two children.