"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." 

... 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."

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.

Gysin receives a major retrospective at The New Museum, 7 July to 3 October 2010, across the road from WSB's "bunker", and Giorno's golden digs.  

It will be interesting to see which Dream Machine(s) will be in the exhibition, certainly on any calendar for a NYC visit this summer.

"Strobing light has been characterized as a method of stimulating a variety of magical and psychic experiences and as having an effect on "normal" brain functions.  While it can be seen as having a scientific basis in effecting the functioning of the brain, it also has a history that can be traced through various "transcendental" experiences and even fortean phenomena".

http://www.dreamachine.ca/

"Dear Nik, what a great film!  He's a fascinating character, and I was blown away by the people you were able to interview.  The final image of Iggy Pop presenting the machine in his concert was unforgettable!"  

We talked about The Bacchae, an ancient play that is always underway, and the dramatic difference between Europe and North America in terms of how artists are respected.

Many thanks to curator Jesse Pires.

The original title is "I'd like to thank my Polish diction coach".