Marina Abramovic took a desert sojourn and upon reflection, stated that all great men must go into the desert and get lost to come back a prophet. Bas Jan Ader’s fateful and final voyage to sea is storied legend and artists have made various updates and tributes to this final work, In Search of the Miraculous. Charles Ray sailed a boat in his memory, and Chris Burden, another artist known for his endurance, tipped his Ghost Ships in Jan Ader’s honor. Photographer Christopher Williams created Bouquet for Bas Jan Ader and Christopher D’Arcangelo, linking these two artists so devoted to de-materialization in life (and death). Italian artist Piero Golia re-enacted Ader’s disappearance by vanishing for three weeks, illegally crossing borders and leaving no trace of himself.
This newly discovered footage of Bas Jan Ader riding his bicycle into ocean is an auspicious portend of things to come.
See Bas Jan Ader’s dossier on Paddle8.