The critic Martha Schwendener writes an insightful rave:
"The audience for magic was small during Gysin’s lifetime. But young artists skeptical of scientific rationalism — or whatever brand of theory they’ve been offered at art school — are finding Gysin’s approach alluring. Which is why, in a bout of art historical conjuration, his reputation as an “unsuccessful artist” is being overturned."
Hoo-ray!
FLicKeR screens at the New Museum Thursday 12 August at 7pm and Saturday 14 August at 3pm. Free with museum admission. Thanks to Laura Hoptman, Elizabeth Sheldon and Travis Chamberlain.
Purchase the Alive Mind version of the FLicKeR DVD. It's worth it, this is the definitive film on Brion Gysin and the Dream Machine - critically acclaimed, award-winning. Join the thousands of satisfied viewers in a most extraordinary voyage into the world of true artistic innovation.
From a thoughtful review by the art critic Ben Davis in Artnet:
"Captured on film, Gysin has a spell-binding, guru-like conviction in his own invention. His charisma is palpable. You get the sense that you might believe anything that this man wanted you to, and understand fully the cult that built around him. In the end, that aura is probably Gysin’s greatest creation. And in that sense -- but maybe only in that sense -- he did indeed succeed in transcending the material world."
Gysin is now affecting the Executive Branch of the USA!
... Obama's early pieces primarily played with structure: Our Long-Term Strategy In Afghanistan employs Brion Gysin's cut-up technique to reorder the words in a major speech on foreign policy, eventually creating a shocking sound collage that, according to the White House, reveals "a truth previously buried beneath layers of intent."
Over a thousand people came out for the opening night of Brion Gysin Dream Machine on a hot New York evening, 13 July 2010. The show is nothing short of sensational.
With birthday boy (69) Udo Breger and curator Laura Hoptman -- it was her night.
The Dream Machine is the final design limited edition, courtesy of the Museum of Modern Art, Paris.
With John Geiger
Gysin art from the spacious, elegantly designed and comprehensive exhibition.
With Paul D. Miller, aka DJ Spooky
Genesis P-Orridge
Gysin's "Caligraffiti of Fire"
Johnny Smoke shows Daniel in the gift shop a Dream Machine prototype.
With Yeah Yeah Yeah's Nick Zinner at the after-party in WSB's bunker bedroom.
With artist Scott Treleaven, Udo Breger, John Geiger and friend Tristan.
"There is a lot of talk about cultural subversion now, but I don’t think anybody could beat these guys at that. Gysin was also interested in the straightforward notion of magic. The calligraphic style he created was a personal glyph that consisted of drawing his initials over and over again; it was, in its way, a spell... I think what drew me to Gysin is the notion that the cut-up has dominated our cultural thinking now for the past 25 years – certainly since the inception of the internet. This idea of breaking down information and ascribing new meanings to what we thought were transparent symbols is something that is done daily now, and he predicted it." -- Laura Hoptman, senior curator at the New Museum of Contemporary Art, in a recent interview.
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