Len Lye

by Roger Horrocks

Len Lye: A Biography tells for the first time the story of a unique, charismatic artist who was an innovator in many areas—film, kinetic sculpture, painting, photography, and poetry. Born in New Zealand in 1901, Len Lye gained an international reputation in the arts and had friendships with many famous people, including Dylan Thomas, Robert Graves, Gertrude Stein, John Grierson, Norman McLaren, Oskar Fischinger, John Cage, Robert Creeley, Laura Riding, Stan Brakhage, and the artists of the New York School. A colorful bohemian, Lye lived in London from 1926 to 1944 (where he made highly original hand-painted films for John Grierson’s GPO Film Unit), then moved to New York for the last 36 years of his life.

Genres: Biography, Art

460 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2001

About the author

Roger John Horrocks MNZM is a New Zealand writer, film-maker, educator and cultural activist.

He taught at the University of Auckland from 1967 to 2004, and on his retirement became an emeritus professor.

In the 2005 New Year Honours, Horrocks was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the film and television industries.

Horrocks played a central role in the re-discovery of expatriate film-maker, kinetic sculptor and writer Len Lye. He worked as Lye's assistant during the artist's last year (1980), then after his death he helped to ensure that his papers and works were returned to New Zealand.

abridged from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Antony Kuzmicich]

I loved this comprehensive biography of Len Lye - the maverick artist, originally from New Zealand, who was a pioneer of animated film and kinetic sculpture. Lye was a colourful personality and lived an eventful life in the avant-garde art scenes of London and New York from the 1920s up to his death in 1980. The book is impressively detailed, including many stories and snippets of conversation from those that knew him and paints a vivid portrait of a fascinating life.