de Sarthe Gallery Hong Kong is proud to present a collection of the works of enigmatic American installation sculptor and performance artist James Lee Byars. Simplicity of theory, action conveyed through sincere intention and a strong and deliberate aesthetic are all components of the work of this elusive artist. Part nomad, part showman, Byars wandered in and out of the dynamic and innovative art world of modern New York in a flurry of style and artist genius.

Byar's notoriety within the art world came from his reputation as an "artists artist". He was revered within the tight circles of the international art world, known to captivate both his contemporaries and audiences alike with his unique likable charm and forthrightness, but he never fully became immersed within the commercial art world until after his death in 1997.

Often defying definition or categorization, Byars moved between the static realms of his contemporaries. He was multidimensional and enigmatic in his approach to graphics and typeface, an early pioneer of their aesthetic power. A considerable amount of the artists career was spent in Asia, in particular Japan, and it is there that he embraced a simplicity of form and an appreciation for a well-timed gesture that infuses his work with an unparalleled spirituality and calm feeing of Zen.