From Inferno to Zos: The Writings and Images of Austin Osman Spare

by Austin Osman Spare

A very rare three-volume matched set of the works of Austin Osman Spare, both written and visual, along with critical commentary, catalogs of showings, and other ephemera. In pristine condition.

Genres: Art

360 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Austin Osman Spare was an English artist who developed idiosyncratic magical techniques including automatic writing, automatic drawing and sigilization based on his theories of the relationship between the conscious and unconscious self. His artistic work is characterized by skilled draughtsmanship exhibiting a complete mastery of the use of the line[1], and often employs monstrous or fantastic magical and sexual imagery.

Some of Spare's techniques, particularly the use of sigils and the creation of an "alphabet of desire" were adopted, adapted and popularized by Peter J. Carroll in the work Liber Null & Psychonaut . Carroll and other writers such as Ray Sherwin are seen as key figures in the emergence of some of Spare's ideas and techniques as a part of a magical movement loosely referred to as Chaos magic.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first volume of a 3 vol. set is a reproduction of a majority of Austin Osman Spare writings and attendant arts:
Earth Inferno, A Book of Satyrs, Book of Pleasure (Self Love), Focus of Life, Anathema of Zos, Automatic Drawing and various art from a variety of a sources. It also includes some biographical material, Notes Towards a Bibliography of Austin Osman Spare, and some Exhibition facsimiles. Some of the reproductions of his more detailed art is not so well reproduced, however the sheer magnitude of this book and otherwise collection of art and words are presented in stunning detail. Together will all three volumes this is the Holy Grail of AOS scholarship.
Manditory!