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 to 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, 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 thru 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.