presenting Adam Donaldson Powell's visual art and literary works.
I dedicate this post to four renowned concert pianists that I studied under as a young man in New York City: John Ranck, Berenice Lipson-Grüzen, Arminda Canteros and Jacob Lateiner. They were all inspiring pedagogues, and colourful personalities …
Alas, I was never good enough to perform these works professionally but they have inspired much in the way of my poetry and paintings … Adam Donaldson Powell.
AZSACRA ZARATHUSTRA … the phenomenon, and the enigma.
(photo: courtesy Azsacra Zarathustra)
The Russian philosopher/artist/author who goes by the name Azsacra Zarathustra is both an internet cult phenomenon and an enigma. A phenomenon due to his voracity in creating provocative art and writing which is enigmatic in itself. Also a phenomenon due to his play upon both curiosity and the predilection in humanoids to self-destruction. But for Azsacra self-destruction is not an end unto itself, but rather the route to self-discovery and Samadhi. Just as sexuality can be a Way to Enlightenment, it is not the sexual act in itself that is enlightening but rather the act of self-obliteration … or release of a false feeling of omnipotence. And thus, in the embracing of the simplicity of being – without illusions of the Ego – humanoids can begin to become more of the essence of God (or the Over man’s Over: the Over-Over).
Time and time again, Azsacra has bombarded the public with staged photographic series dealing with illusions of sexuality, death, fauna and self-harm, and always with hints of a deeper and more esoteric philosophical foundation. Over the years his internet following has grown to the point where he is now an underground cult figure. There are many questions and opinions on internet and YouTube forums as to what his art and philosophy really mean. Azsacra has no need to explain or justify his work in these forums, and his literature and art must and should stand on its own. And yet, as his videos become more sophisticated and employ ever more symbolism and depictions of violent destruction, Azsacra’s cult following increases. This in spite of much of his output representing languages and cultures other than English/Western, and despite the fact that many who comment obviously lack the historical, philosophical and esoteric foundations of knowledge that Azsacra Zarathustra both masters and plays with. The ShunyaRevolution is no ordinary revolution. It is rather a state of being and nothingness … the reduction of all Ego to a series of zeros. Could it be that Azsacra Zarathustra the Phenomenon has appealed to the masses on a deep subconscious level, without their knowing how or why? Azsacra is wise to use a pseudonym, as that increases the enigmatic appeal, but also underscores the destruction of Ego and the Power of Nothingness. Azsacra has – thus – little baggage to carry with him … in this world, or the next, and can ride the power of the Over-Over already now.
Youtube.com currently has over 70 videos made by Azsacra Zarathustra. Azsacra has a natural sense of aesthetics in regards to stark black and white photography, often in the form of subdued or constrained over-dramatization. He has successfully transferred these skills and visionary spirit to his countless short internet videos, some in black and white and others in full color. He freely combines his sense of the philosophical, the historical and the theatrical with his excellent sense of graphic presentation, and has reached out into the musical as well – thus creating an ongoing mini-series of short-short esoteric-philosophical avant-garde theatrical works of almost Wagnerian scope. His play with age-old esoteric symbols from the Norse, Indo-Aryan and pagan civilizations against the fears and skepticism of today’s culture in regards to anything that may be perceived as “dark” is a catalyst for both internal confusion and for the outing of oneself as an “Under-man” who has given in to fear and Ego. For there can be no experience of Light without Darkness, Goodness has as many knife-edges as does Evil, and any perception of God outside of one’s own Emptiness is perhaps Folly. So, Azsacra leads us to Samadhi via self-destruction of Ego and annihilation of the certainty of Ego, fear and attachment. In that sense, I would agree that ShunyaRevolution is true revolution.
For more on the philosophy of Azsacra Zarathustra, see this essay by Katya Ganeshi:
http://occupyessays.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/the-absolute-revolution-of-azsacra-zarathustra/
I will conclude by presenting a few links of videos by Azsacra Zarathustra as illustrations:
THE SHUNYA TO POWER
THE DANCE OF THE SHARP-CLAWED SWASTIKAS
AZSACRA: DRAGON OF DEATH
SHUNYAREVOLUTION: THE ATOMS OF SHUNYA TO POWER
AZSACRA: DEUTSCHLAND-SAKURA
HERE ARE SOME OF AZSACRA’S MANTRA PODCASTS:
https://adamangel.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/azsacra-mantras-beyond-time-and-eternity/
OTHER INTERESTING LINKS:
https://adamangel.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/extreme-poetry-adam-donaldson-powell-azsacra-zarathustra/
A POETIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN AZSACRA ZARATHUSTRA AND ADAM DONALDSON POWELL
https://adamangel.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/extreme-azsacra-zarathustra/
ESSAY BY ADAM DONALDSON POWELL ON THE EXTREME ART PHOTOGRAPHY OF AZASACRA ZARATHUSTRA
AZSACRA’S THEATRE OF CRUELTY NOH PHOTO GALLERIES
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4394791/truther_interview_with_azsacra_zarathustra/
SEAN HARDIN INTERVIEWS AZSACRA ZARATHUSTRA
Oso Para Vos 
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