Thisbookoffersaglimpseintothewide-ranging50-yearcareeroftheinternationallyrenownedHongKongphotographer/designerthroughhisworkincollagesandphotomontages.Fromhisearlyalbumcoverswhenhewasanartdirector/designerforthemusicindustryinNewYork,LosAngelesandLondoninthe1970’s,throughhisdiverseinternationalassignmentsandpersonalworks,tohismostrecentexhibitioninHongKong.Thestoryencompassesthelongjourneyfromcut-and-pastecollagestothecomputer-compositedphotomontagesofdreamscapesinthisCarnivalofDreams.
Inhisintroductiontitled‘TheManfromEverywhere’,PicoIyerwrites:“Fordecadesnow,BasilPaohasbeentheglobaleyethroughwhichI’vetakeninalmosteverycountry,asclearlyastheworldwithin…IneverknowwheretoplaceBasil;Ican’tgetmyheadaroundhim.Album-designer,lovingfather,covertChanmaster—21stcenturyRenaissanceman—Basilisalwaysbringingthemanyworldsinsidehimtogethertocreatesomethingfarmorethanthesumoftheirparts.IsheaTaoistFellini?Orjustastate-of-the-artcontemplative?Itdoesn’treallymatter.Forsomanyyears,he’sbeengivingustheworld—wide-angle,close-up,crazy,movingandravishing.Itonlymakessensethatnowhe’sshowinguswholeotherworlds,whichmaybeinsideus,outsideusorbothatonce.Art’sdream,Ibelieve,istodojustthis:standusonourheads,speakdirectlytoourhearts—andneverceasetosurprise.”
ART CARNIVAL ICAN DESIGNER DREAMS ALBUM
