Man is a Bundle of Ids

[merlin]

It is well known that the famous 1955 picture by Spare named Man is a Bundle of Ids, also known as Aerial Vampire, was much appreciated by the Grants, to the point that they purchased it and that it has been in their possession ever since. What do you think that the meaning of this mysterious work is? Also possibly what could be its significance or importance in relation to Kenneth Grant's work, and the Typhonian Tradition?

[Michael Staley]

The Grants didn't buy this picture. In effect they were bequeathed it by Spare.

Man is a Bandle of Ids was unsold at the 1955 exhibition, and was one of quite a few pictures by Spare which were still unsold at the time he died. In his Will, Spare gave a choice of pictures to several friends. Frank Letchford had the first choice, of fifteen pictures. Next, Kenneth Grant had a choice of ten pictures. One of the pictures which Grant chose was Man is a Bundle of Ids.

Some of the pictures in the 1955 exhibition were arranged in several series, such as 'Ghosts I Have Seen', 'Hopes, Fears and the Half-Cognizant'. The first and perhaps striking of such series was 'Contexture of Being' and it consisted of twelve pictures, one of which was Man is a Bundle of Ids. This picture has several features in common with some of the magical stele, in particular having an arrangement of lines and angles at the heart of the picture

Yes, Kenneth considered this a key picture. He used it as the frontispiece to The Ninth Arch, where it is referred to as "the essential magical formula". It is also woven into the novella Against the Light. Kenneth remarked to me that he had discussed this picture with Spare, who maintained that it contained formulae for transferring consciousness from one plane to another. Kenneth thought this concerned not only the sigils above the yoni of the 'Aerial Vampire', but also the network of cones depicted in the picture. This aspect is expanded upon in an appendix to The Ninth Arch

In short, I can't answer your query about what this picture might mean in terms of the Typhonoan Tradition. So far as its place in Kenneth's work is concerned, detail from the picture was first published in Images & Oracles of Austin Osman Spare. However, I don't think that Kenneth offered any analysis of the picture until The Ninth Arch.

[merlin]

Thanks for your reply, Mr. Staley. My source for my statement was from Von Zos website, "First exhibited at the Archer Gallery show in 1955, Man Is A Bundle Of Ids was acquired by Kenneth and Steffi Grant shortly after and has been in their possession ever since. "

[Ad Finem]

Very interesting to read about the history of this picture with some good reference points.

George