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To me, James Lee Byars's work represents a certain melancholy magic. In the Kunsthalle in Bremen, I held my breath while watching how thin sheets of gold leaf rustled softly in the installation "The Death of James Lee Byars", which was also shown at the Venice Biennale a year earlier. In 1994, Byars had used the installation to stage his own death (he was terminally ill). Gold represented a certain infinity, or eternity in his work. British artist Andrew Webb shares my fascination with Byars and paid homage in this work. Webb used a symbol that Byars was known for: his extremely long sleeves, that, on the one hand, prevented the artist from making hand contact with others (and thus creating an emotional distance) and on the other hand meant that he could no longer use his hands, that are so essential for artists. Webb adds another layer to the work that also refers to a certain infinity in time: the dichotomy paradox of Zeno of Elea, which has inspired and puzzled generations of scientists, including Newton and Aristotle (in "Physics"). This mindblowing paradox (https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-is-zeno-s-dichotomy-paradox-colm-kelleher) will nearly convince you (using an advanced philosophical knot) that a journey from A to B can last an eternity and as a result, movement does not actually exist.
(Annie Gentils Gallery)