Ontological Graffiti (Deluxe Limited Edition of 88 copies)

London: Fulgur Limited, 2016. First Edition. Deluxe Hardcover. Small folio. Limited to 88 numbered and signed copies, this being No. 28. Bound in full black Morocco with gilt stamped design to front and back, and gilt titles to spine. All edges gilt. Custom decorative endpapers. 480 pages. Profusely illustrated with full-page color plates and additional illustrations in black and white. SIGNED BY MICHAEL BERTIAUX. This massive tome is housed in a black cloth solander box with gilt stamp to spine. Inner tray of box includes a piece of original art by Michael Bertiaux that deals with his expression of a specific spirit entity. A fantastic example of esoteric book art. All components in fine condition. This is without a doubt, Michael Bertiaux’s magnum opus. More than 40 years in development and a decade in production, this work now stands at over 470 pages and is without doubt his most substantial and important book yet. Ontological Graffiti provides for us a vibrant vudutronic, spiritualist, art-grimoire. It presents the strange narrative of certain magical work conducted at the infamous ‘Hyde Park Lodge’ in Chicago during the period 1965-1975. The lodge was a ‘ritual collective of occult initiates’ who would meet monthly under the directorship of Dr. Hector-Francois Jean Main. Ontological Graffiti contains the séances, lecture notes and descriptive texts for this intense period. This material accompanies the series of large acrylic magical paintings produced by Bertiaux, who was assigned to capture through his art the messages and images of various ‘transcendental consciousnesses’ which manifested during the course of their workings. The Lodge later discovered that rituals conducted using these paintings deepened the connection with the spirits, Loa, and ‘Other Minds’. In addition, the book also offers the reader countless drawings, collages and ‘passeports for contacting and travelling within the spirit realms.’