Bas Jan Ader

Bas Jan Ader (born 1942 in Winschoten, Holland, lost at sea in 1975 between Cape Cod, Massachusetts and England) was a Dutch conceptual artist, performance artist, photographer and filmmaker. Ader's work was presented as photographs and film of his performances. His work began to experience a surge in popularity in the late 1990s.

Education

During adolescence Ader took art classes both at the Rietveld Academy in Holland, in the United States during a study abroad program. Ader graduated from the Otis Art College in 1965 with a BFA, and from the Claremont Graduate School in 1967. After graduating, Ader taught at various institutions, including Mount San Antonio College, Immaculate Heart College, and the University of California, Irvine.

Famous works

Perhaps Ader's most famous work was the 1970 short film titled "I'm too sad to tell you", which consists of the artist crying in front of the camera; the title is meant to invode the depth of the despair. Much of Ader's work expresses an intense sadness.

Death

Ader was lost at sea while attempting a single-handed west-east crossing of the Atlantic in a 13 foot pocket cruiser, a modified Guppy 13 named "Ocean Wave". The passage was part 2 of a work of performance art titled "In Search of the Miraculous". Radio contact broke off three weeks into the voyage, and Ader is presumed lost off the coast of Cape Cod. The boat was found after 10 months, floating partially submerged 150 miles West-Southwest of the coast of Ireland; his body was never found. After being recovered by the Spanish fishing vessel that found it, the boat was taken to Corunna where it was stolen.

Quotes

• "The sea, the land, the artist has with great sadness known they too will be no more."

External Links

• Artforum article
• "This American Life" episode mentioning Ader
• Distinguished Alumni page from the Otis College of Art and Design