Buff Monster's “Embrace The Melt” Book Documents a Vienna Residency From Start to Finish!

Buff Monster just announced a brand new publication titled Embrace The Melt, and this one feels especially personal. Rather than a typical art book or random image collection, this release documents his month-long Vienna residency from start to finish, presented mostly in chronological order. From early sketches and prepping the space, to painting the floor and walls, creating the paintings, installing the final show, and capturing opening night, it’s all here. He even included photos of Vienna for context, making the book feel like a full experience rather than just a recap.

What makes this especially important is that the show itself was only viewable for a total of eight hours. That’s it. After a month of painting and building out the installation, it was gone almost as quickly as it appeared. Buff made a point to photograph and film the entire process because he knew the in-person audience would be limited. This book becomes the lasting archive of that project, preserving something that otherwise would’ve lived mostly in memory.

Originally conceived as a simple zine, the project grew organically during the layout process. With a background in graphic design before becoming a full-time artist 20 years ago, Buff handled the editing and layout himself, shaping the book naturally without forcing a page count. In the end, he found the right balance at just over 200 photos spread across 128 pages, resulting in a thicker and more substantial publication than he initially anticipated.

The final book measures 6 x 8.25 inches and comes in a limited edition of 150 copies. Each copy is signed on a random page and includes a show flyer along with a special sticker sheet featuring two paintings and two drawings from the residency. Printed in the USA and priced at $30 plus shipping and handling, this feels like a proper collectible art document rather than just a recap of a show.

For anyone who appreciates process, immersive installations, and seeing how a concept evolves from blank walls to full melt mode, this one is definitely worth a look. Embrace The Melt releases HERE on Friday, February 27th at 11am ET over at StayMelty.com.