Ash Lieb – November 5 2017

National Epilepsy Awareness Month – November 2017

Ash is an artist, comedian and writer. He is a graduate of Ballarat University. Ash held his first art exhibition at the age of eight and wrote his first novel, The Secret Well, at 15 followed by Bleach at age 16. He performed comedy on stage for the first time in 2009 while living in Brisbane. In 1995, a tumour pressing on Ash’s spinal cord was removed and in 2003, at age 20, he required urgent surgery for an aggressive clear cell meningioma. Believing that like his brother he would die before his 20s, Ash began writing his third novel, The Technicolor Transgressions of the Blue Rose, less than two months out from surgery and completed it within hours of going under the knife. He developed epilepsy as a result of this brain tumour and much of his art recreates the bizarre imagery he experiences during his short temporal lobe seizures. Ash returned to university in 2005, only to require further surgery and radiation therapy whilst undertaking the final year of his visual arts degree in 2007. As an artist, Ash has exhibited in many forums, including the Mental Illness Fellowship of Queensland’s 21st annual art exhibition. While studying at university in Brisbane, Ash was crippled by illness and unable to afford medication for his paranoid hallucinations. He ended up living for months on the streets. In 2010 Ash returned to Ballarat where he continues his careers.

The Technicolor Transgressions of the Blue Rose
Black Shadow Books, 2003; ISBN 9780987493125

Haunted, strung out and paranoid, John the Junkie keeps telling himself that the land of Oz wasn’t meant to be like this, but then he did always see the world a little differently with that weird colour-blind thing he’s got. “Have you ever seen the Sun when it’s blue?” John just wants to go back home. Ever since arriving in Australia he’s been nothing but a thief. The voices in his head will tell you, “He’s scum, he’s nothing!” John’s been off the needle for days, he’s trying to give up the drugs. He’s trying to turn over a new leaf, but behind every leaf there’s a thorn waiting to cut your good intentions to shreds. So now there’s just one more piggy bank to crack and if it works out, Junkie John’s going home.

Funny Guy
Black Shadow Books, 2013, ISBN 9780987493101

Here, in his hilarious first collection of jokes, Ash Lieb has managed to write a book that not only reveals the meaning of life but is also the perfect size for keeping in one’s breast pocket to protect you from stray bullets! (breast pocket not included) In a book guaranteed to keep small table legs stable, absurdist Ash Lieb discusses everything from work, family and being a kid, to anxiety, philosophy and the universe. “It’s impossible to know the universe, it’s hard enough just knowing which melons are ripe down at the shops!” Lieb’s unique brand of one liners and tales flow with stories on friends, family and being a nerd. “I’m terrible at sports, when I was little I always lost at Lego!” With ceaseless hilarity Funny Guy also explores animals, girls, work, the media, health and death. “Cockroaches can survive a nuclear war but most of their favourite shops will be gone!”