Byars
The most famous unknown artist in the world
James Lee Byars was the most famous unknown artist in the world. That’s how he described himself. He was obviously a very spirited man. Most of his works were short performances that lasted just a few minutes, after which he would disappear like a wizard, dressed in a golden outfit and black hat. Byars literally hypnotized the people who went to his events, which were organised like rituals and run with great care. Nothing about his art was casual. There was always some reference to the idea of perfection and to the forms of eternity. He celebrated beauty through shapes (the circle and sphere), colours (gold, red and black) and materials (velvet, silk and lamé). In eastern culture, which always fascinated Byers, these have strong symbolic connotations.
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The most famous unknown artist in the world
James Lee Byars was the most famous unknown artist in the world. That’s how he described himself. He was obviously a very spirited man. Most of his works were short performances that lasted just a few minutes, after which he would disappear like a wizard, dressed in a golden outfit and black hat. Byars literally hypnotized the people who went to his events, which were organised like rituals and run with great care. Nothing about his art was casual. There was always some reference to the idea of perfection and to the forms of eternity. He celebrated beauty through shapes (the circle and sphere), colours (gold, red and black) and materials (velvet, silk and lamé). In eastern culture, which always fascinated Byers, these have strong symbolic connotations.
