CLAIR OBSCUR GALLERY is
proud to present a collection of rare photographs of William S.
Burroughs. William S. Burroughs became a renowned American writer years
after his second book Naked Lunch was banned in the US and
subsequently lifted by the US Supreme Court.
Burroughs is reputed to have
written scores of pages while kicking junk in Tangiers in the late
1950's. Brion Gysin suggested that he cut up these writings and randomly
re-assemble them often adding cut up newspaper articles as well. Hence a
"New" way of writing emerged. Considered by many to be incomprehensible
as well as obscene due to the subject matter of Homosexuality and Drug
use, what would appear to be random unreality was in actuality
hyper-reality. In one's everyday life one is bombarded with random pieces
of conversation, writing, radio and television. Burroughs became a hero
to those who wish to question reality and push boundaries often with
little regard for their mortality when on occasion emulating the extreme
drug use which some felt WSB was advocating.
The first group of photos was
taken at the LACMA opening of William S. Burroughs and the Arts, while
William and Allen Ginsberg were giving autographs and talking to the
public. David Woodard built the Dreamachine for the Museum show and he
and Aes-Nihil started working on a documentary 'William S. Burroughs
in the Dreamachine'. They subsequently went to visit Burroughs in
Lawrence, Kansas and the stills shot through the Dreamachine resulted. These
turned out to be the last photos taken of William, as were the photos of
Ginsberg at LACMA.
JOHN AES-NIHIL BIOGRAPHY
Photography: SF & UK Rock Bands Fillmore, Matrix SF Velvet
Underground, Who, Big Brother etc, NYC Punk Bands mid 70s Ramones,
Talking Heads, Stooges etc, Avant Garde Jazz- Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor, LA
Punk 90s Imperial Butt Wizards, Glen Meadmore, Vaginal Davis, Goddess
Bunny. Photo Archives on Sharon Tate, Roman Polanski, Manson Family,
Otto Skorzaney.
Films: Manson Family Movies
74, The Drift 89, The Ma Barker Story 90, William S. Burroughs In The
Dreamachine 97, Suddenly Last Summer 01, Descent Into Glamour 02, Helter
Skelter 2002.
Music: Beyond Joy & Evil
74- present, Tradition is the Avant Garde 90s. Founded The Manson
Archives, The Archives of Aesthetic Nihilism. Interviewer and
Photographer for Exit and Seconds- John Waters, Mink Stole, Paul
Morrisey, Ronald Tavel, Joe Dellasandro, Holly Woodlawn, George Kuchar,
Robert Downey, Cecil Taylor.
