Mr. Fluxus: A Collective Portrait of George Maciunas, 1931-1978

by Emmett Williams, Ann Noel, Ay-O

George Maciunas was the founding member and leader of the most radical and experimental art movement of the 1960s, Fluxus. Its members rejected the traditional systems of high art, practicing an extraordinary form of anti-art that encompassed everything from photography and pavement art to poetry and drama. Mr. Fluxus, the first biography of this key figure in twentieth- century art, reveals the story of an unorthodox, contradictory, and elusive genius. Maciunas attempted to rule Fluxus in totalitarian fashion, yet he laughed at himself and provoked others to laughter, poking fun at the incurable illnesses and painful realities that afflicted him throughout his relatively short life. What emerges from this collection of anecdotes and impressions, coaxed from many of his former Fluxus colleagues and from an array of friends and enemies, is an informative portrait of an inspiring crusader whose mission was to change the world, beginning with the world of art.

Genres: Art, Biography

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Tosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A loving tribute to George Maciunas, one of the fathers of the Fluxus movement. A crazy movement - where there is no leader or strict plan - just making crazy art of all sorts. It's child like, but like a very dangerous child. It's fun but it will bite you. It will bite you on the butt. You like that? Well that's art in a sense - it bites you on the butt - and if you scream, well that means you like it.

[Amira Hanafi]

The biography collects and arranges reports, reminiscences, letters and photographs from a collection of folk to tell the story of Maciunas' bizarre and inspiring life. A fascinating way to see the man and his work from many contexts. Maciunas worked and planned to the end. The bits from his mom will make you feel like yours is the most super supportive in the world.

[Vylūnė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Fluxus is an unconventinal biography. The book is a magical way to learn about complex personality of George Maciunas since it's made of his letters and numerous conflicting memories of his friends, relatives and colegues. You don't read this book; you try to put a puzzle together. It's a surprising and inspirational read.

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apie žmogų, kuris virė arbatą iš virvės, kartą turėjo 3 šaldytuvus apelsinų, mėgo rengtis suknelėmis, svajojo po mirties pagaliau išgirsti 38 prarastąsias Monteverdžio operas bei sukūrė SoHo.

Gaila tik, kad nutylėti atsiminimų autoriai.

[Chay Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a perfect record of Maciunas. Such a divisive and volatile figure, I love the fact that all the contributions were made anonymously (though you can very often tell who wrote them!)