|
|
|
 |
|
|
ALBERT HOFMANN/ 2012
(  Satoshi Kinoshita )
| Series: | Prints on paper: Portraits 3 | | Medium: | Giclée on Japanese matte paper | | Size (inches): | 16.5 x 11.7 (paper size) | | Size (mm): | 420 x 297 (paper size) | | Edition size: | 25 | | Catalog #: | PP_0257 | | Description: | From an edition of 25. Signed, titled, date, copyright, edition in pencil on the reverse / Aside from the numbered edition of 5 artist's proofs and 2 printer's proofs.
"I think that in human evolution it has never been as necessary to have this substance LSD. It is just a tool to turn us into what we are supposed to be."
- Albert Hofmann
Albert Hofmann -
Albert Hofmann (January 11, 1906 – April 29, 2008)[1][2] was a Swiss scientist known best for being the first person to synthesize, ingest and learn of the psychedelic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). He authored more than 100 scientific articles and a number of books, including LSD: My Problem Child.[2] He was named #1 out of 100 in Telegraph's magazine 2007 "Top 100 Living Geniuses" list.[3]
Discovery of LSD:
Hofmann became an employee of the pharmaceutical-chemical department of Sandoz Laboratories (now a subsidiary of Novartis), located in Basel as a co-worker with professor Jordan Jake, founder and director of the pharmaceutical department.[4] He began studying the medicinal plant squill and the fungus ergot as part of a program to purify and synthesize active constituents for use as pharmaceuticals. His main contribution was to elucidate the chemical structure of the common nucleus of Scilla glycosides (an active principal of Mediterranean Squill).[4] While researching lysergic acid derivatives, Hofmann first synthesized LSD on November 16, 1938.[5] The main intention of the synthesis was to obtain a respiratory and circulatory stimulant (an analeptic) with no effects on the uterus in analogy to nikethamide (which is also a diethylamide) by introducing this moiety to lysergic acid. It was set aside for five years, until April 19, 1943, when Hofmann decided to reexamine it. While re-synthesizing LSD, he accidentally absorbed a small quantity through his fingertips[6] and fortuitously discovered its powerful effects. He described what he felt as being:
... affected by a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness. At home I lay down and sank into a not unpleasant intoxicated-like condition, characterized by an extremely stimulated imagination. In a dreamlike state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight to be unpleasantly glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors. After some two hours this condition faded away.[7]
Further research:
Hofmann, later, was to discover 4-acetoxy-DET (4-acetoxy-N,N-diethyltryptamine), also known as ethacetin, ethylacybin, or 4-AcO-DET, a hallucinogenic tryptamine. He first synthesized 4-AcO-DET in 1958 in the Sandoz lab. Hofmann became director of the natural products department at Sandoz and continued studying hallucinogenic substances found in Mexican mushrooms and other plants used by the aboriginal people. This led to the synthesis of psilocybin, the active agent of many "magic mushrooms."[9] Hofmann also became interested in the seeds of the Mexican morning glory species Rivea corymbosa, the seeds of which are called Ololiuhqui by the natives. He was surprised to find the active compound of Ololiuhqui, ergine (LSA, lysergic acid amide), to be closely related to LSD.
In 1962, he and his wife Anita Hofmann (born Guanella) traveled to southern Mexico to search for the plant "Ska Maria Pastora" (Leaves of Mary the Shepherdess), later known as Salvia divinorum. He was able to obtain samples of this plant but never succeeded in identifying its active compound which has since been identified as the diterpenoid Salvinorin A.
In 1963, Hofmann attended the annual convention of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences (WAAS) in Stockholm.
Hofmann called LSD "medicine for the soul" and was frustrated by the worldwide prohibition of it. "It was used very successfully for 10 years in psychoanalysis," he said, adding that the drug was misused by the Counterculture of the 1960s and then criticized unfairly by the establishment. Because LSD is such a powerful[vague] compound, he conceded that it could be dangerous if misused.[10]
In December 2007, Swiss medical authorities permitted a psychotherapist to perform psychotherapeutic experiments with patients who suffer from terminal-stage cancer and other deadly diseases. Although not yet started, these experiments will represent the first study of the therapeutic effects of LSD on humans in 35 years, as other studies have focused on the drug's effects on consciousness and body. Hofmann acclaimed the study, and continued to say he believed in the therapeutic benefits of LSD.[11]
Hofmann was due to speak at the World Psychedelic Forum[12] from March 21 to March 24, 2008, but was forced to cancel because of bad health.
Death:
Hofmann died of natural causes on April 29, 2008, in the village of Burg im Leimental, near Basel, Switzerland. He was 102 years old.[13][14][15]
References:
1. ^ "Albert Hofmann". Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
2. ^ a b "Obituary: Albert Hofmann, LSD inventor". London: Daily Telegraph. 2008-04-29. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
3. ^ "Top 100 living geniuses". The Daily Telegraph (London). 2007-10-30.
4. ^ a b "Freedom of speech - use it or lose it". Flashback.se. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
5. ^ Dr. Albert Hofmann; translated from the original German (LSD Ganz Persönlich) by J. Ott. MAPS-Volume 6 Number 69 Summer 1969
6. ^ "Europe | LSD inventor Albert Hofmann dies". BBC News. 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
7. ^ Hofmann 1980, p. 15
9. ^ Bleidt, Barry; Michael Montagne (1996). Clinical Research in Pharmaceutical Development. Informa Health Care. pp. 36, 42–43. ISBN 0-8247-9745-0.
10. ^ Smith, Craig S. (2006-01-07). "New York Times article". The New York Times.
11. ^ "The comeback of LSD - swissinfo.ch".
12. ^ "World Psychedelic Forum".
13. ^ Smith, Craig S. (2008-04-30). "Albert Hofmann, the Father of LSD, Dies at 102". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
14. ^ "LSD inventor Albert Hofmann dies aged 102". Retrieved 2008-04-30.
15. ^ "Albert Hofmann, Obituary, Economist.com". The Economist. 2008-05-08. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Hofmann
| | | send price request |
|
|
|
|
|
Gallery opening
500 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1820 (Between 42nd and 43rd)
...
|
|
more
|
|
