In a century that was dominated by science and technology, the
wide-ranging artwork of Michael Ayrton (1921-75) is truly a tribute
to the enduring power of Greek myth. Theorists often discuss the
link between myth and creativity, but rarely does one see this
connection manifested so provocatively over the course of an
artist's career. Fittingly, this British sculptor, painter, author,
filmmaker, and maze designer was inspired by the story of the
archetypal craftsman Daedalus -- father of Icarus and maker of the
labyrinth that imprisoned the Minotaur -- and produced over 800
works that in turn enhance the myth's significance. Highlighting
the interaction between myth and artist, word and image, Jacob
Nyenhuis here presents a catalogue of these works, one that will
enlighten Ayrton's British following while introducing him to an
American audience.
A nonconformist who challenged Picasso's reign over the art
world, Ayrton found in Daedalus a richly complex story of captivity
and escape, ingenuity and creativity, flight and fall, success and
failure. Ayrton's own journey into the labyrinth set him on a
torturous path through life and into the psyche: he came to
identify himself not only with the craftsman but also with the
Minotaur, representative of the bestial nature hidden within all of
us. He ultimately created a new visual syntax that expanded the
meaning of the labyrinth in disturbing ways for the twentieth
century. The intensity of Ayrton's journey is conveyed in this
beautifully produced volume comprising biography, critical
analysis, historical context, and an annotated catalogue of the
works, many appearing in color.
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