VALI MYERS
Vali Myers was an enigmatic Australian-born artist who lived her life as a fiercely independent, brave, bright flame carving her influence through Paris, Italy, New York and Africa before returning to Australia in the twilight of her life.
Artist, dancer, animal lover, dedicated diarist, visionary, muse and powerful creatrix, Vali left a body of work which started with her early drawings in the cafés of Paris in the early 1950s right through till her death in 2003.
Vali had an incalculable impact on creative beings all over the world. Her path crossed with many luminaries of the 20th century, including Jean Paul Sartre, Jean Genet, Tennessee Williams, Allen Ginsberg, George Plimpton, Django Reinhardt, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Donovan, Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, Dee Dee Ramone and Marianne Faithfull.
Known in life for her wild, red hair, intricate facial tattoos and loud gypsy jewelery, Valis indomitable spirit and authentic take on life continues to permeate through her art, inspiring and influencing those who fall under her spell. Her exceptionally detailed drawings, delicately executed at night by lamp-light, often took many months, even years, to complete.
Night Flower features every major Myers' artwork spanning 50 years, many unpublished drawings, rare photographs, previously unseen diary excerpts (full pages), specially commissioned text by a range of luminaries who knew Vali from different periods of time, and fully restored, high quality reproductions.
This is the first comprehensive art book on Myers in over 30 years and includes many previously unpublished discoveries from the archive. Night Flower also features contributions from Carlo McCormick (art critic & senior editor of Paper Mag NYC), Eileen Polk (New York-based punk photographer), Devendra Banhart (contemporary alt-folk pop star), Donovan (60s pop musician), Chris Stein (Blondie), Flame Schon (filmmaker and photographer), Gianni Menichetti (author and Valis life partner), and Ruth Cullen, Julia Inglis and Nicole Karidis (Vali Myers Art Gallery Trust).
