Author: Berman, WallaceWallace Berman was a notorious guru of the 1960s art pantheon. A self-taught artist, Berman was influenced by Surrealism, Dadaism and the Kabbalah, as well as jazz music and the mystical symbols and popular imagery of his time. This title follows the eponymous 2021 show at Totah, a rare East Coast exhibition of Berman’s work, which included a screening of his rare short film 'Aleph' (1956-66), followed by a discussion between Tosh Berman (Wallace Berman’s son) and Andrew Lampert.Often cited as a West Coast Beat Generation artist who rubbed elbows with the likes of Allen Ginsberg, Dennis Hopper and the Rolling Stones, his contributions transcend the comparisons of his aesthetic and the associations that he kept. Berman is best known for his signature motif, which comes from a reappropriated Sony advertisement picturing a hand holding a transistor radio, which he found in 1964. By removing the speaker grill and inserting random appropriated images, the hand shuffles up messages that appear to spring out of the ether. His early use of the gridding technique creates a visual cacophony that barrages the senses.ISBN 9781734304565. Totah. hb. 152 pages. 58 colour ills. 29.8 x 24.1 cm.available
