Wednesday 23 April 2008

Las Pozas explored









Surreal Eden : Edward James & Las Pozas by Margaret Hooks
Princeton Architectural Press, New York, 2006.

After a visit to Xilitla in 1987 Margaret Hooks became interested in the English surrealist Edward James. She has written on the life and work of James for ARTnews (1998) and Grand Street(2004) and her book Surreal Eden: Edward James & Las Pozas, the first to be written on his surreal masterwork in the Mexican jungle, was published to critical acclaim in 2006.

Edward James was finally able to realize his artistic desires by creating Las Pozas -- a work twenty years in the making. In 1945, arrived in this part of Mexico, abounding in waterfalls, parrots and butterflies, in pursuit of wild orchids, one of James' many passions. - Margaret Hooks

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Now playing: Chavela Vargas - Luz De Luna
via FoxyTunes

7 comments:

An Aesthete's Lament said...

For an article about James in the jungle (and the difficulties of restoration of Las Pozas), see this New York Times article ... http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE2DC1E3EF930A15750C0A96E9C8B63&scp=1&sq=edward+james+mexico&st=nyt

An Aesthete's Lament said...

The article mentions that Las Pozas was sold last year to the two of the richest men in Mexico ...

Katherine Lee said...

so super cool! i work at domino mag and have just started my own design blog www.urbanfleadesign.com. i linked to your site, and would love for you to do the same for mine. in the meantime, keep up the awesome work and cheers!
Katherine aka. Urban Flea :)

Margaret said...

thanks for your two excellent posts on Edward James and for mentioning my
book. they led to my discovering your elegant site where i see we share
many interests, such as Chavela Vargas...i've been a big fan since my
years in mexico city.
Margaret

HOBAC said...

AL - thank you, what a great article.

HOBAC said...

Katherine - welcome! I don't know, Carla Bruni?!? ...;-}

HOBAC said...

Margaret - thank you, the pleasure was mine.

And, not least of all the fabulous Tina Modotti, one of my absolute favourites! I am picking up your Phaidon book on her tomorrow. I can't wait to see it.