Discovering Marwencol
Mark Hogancamp from my visit in June 2014
© David Naugle all rights reserved
I met Mark Hogancamp when I lived in a rural hamlet in NY state in 2004 (population 350). I had seen him walking down our rural state road a number of times, often wearing a vintage WWII coat, and one day I pulled over and chatted with him. He was very guarded but eventually opened up to me and shared his world of art, hate, love, pain, and self-rehabilitation through creativity.
August 10, 2007
© David Naugle all rights reserved
I interviewed Mark and photographed him for the art magazine Esopus Issue 5. The piece was well received and was seen later by Jeff Malmberg, a filmmaker out of Los Angeles. He was interested in shooting a short piece and contacted magazine editor Tod Lippy and myself about meeting Mark. I was protective of him since there are many complicated layers, but Jeff Malmberg was successful in creating a sensitive and impactful documentary Marwencol and was released in 2010.
Premiere Showing at IFC – NYC October 8, 2010.
© David Naugle all rights reserved
David Naugle and Mark Hogancamp at IFC – NYC October 8, 2010.
© David Naugle all rights reserved
Official Trailer Marwencol (Documentary) / Jeff Malmberg
Welcome To Marwen Trailer 2018
Well it actually happened – Robert Zemeckis saw the doc and wanted to create his own blockbuster version of Mark’s story. Four years in the making and the film is now a reality. I’m in touch with Mark Hogancamp and he is excited about the trailer. I just hope they tell the honest story. Apparently, my discovery was cut so I’m out of this picture. Welcome to Marwen is in theaters December 21, 2018.
Detail of interior 2014
Snap Judgement 2016- Marwencol
Press:
“What’s Fact and What’s Fiction in Welcome to Marwen?” – Slate By ELLIN STEIN
New York Times “In a Tiny Universe, Room to Heal” – by Penelope Green
Wall Street Journal “Illustrator’s War Games Prove Restorative” – by Steve Dollar
Psychology Today “Not Child’s Play” – by Ethan Gilsdorf
Collector’s Weekly “Hogancamp’s Heroes: How Playing With Dolls Lets a Hate-Crime Survivor Fight Back”
Huffington Post – “When Therapy Becomes Art” – by Jonathan Kim
Los Angeles Times “The Extraordinary Goings-On in a Town Called Marwencol” – by Mark Olsen
Wired Magazine “Miniature Town Brings Its Creator a New Life” – by Pete Brook
Denver Post “This Doc(umentary) Has Healing Powers” – by Lisa Kennedy
Austin Chronicle “Life and Death in Miniature” – by Ashley Moreno
Times Herald-Record “Personal Tragedy Leads Ulster Man to Unique Art Form” – by Jeremiah Horrigan
Montreal Mirror – “A World in His Backyard” – by Mark Slutsky
Chronogram “Marwencol: A Fine Belgian Fantasy “
Tonner Magazine -“Marwencol: A film of depth on art, doll collecting, photography and dream” by Sparrow
