Lee "Scratch" Perry

Lee "Scratch" Perry was a Jamaican artist and producer who was born in 1936 and passed away in 2021. He is known for his contributions to the development of reggae music in Jamaica and his innovative techniques in sound engineering and production.

Perry started his career in the music industry as a record seller and worked his way up to become a producer, working with some of the biggest names in Jamaican music, including Bob Marley and the Wailers. He is credited with creating the "dub" style of reggae music, which involved manipulating and remixing existing tracks to create a new sound.

In addition to his work as a producer, Perry was also an accomplished musician and performer. He released numerous albums throughout his career, often incorporating elements of dub and other experimental techniques in his music. His work often dealt with themes of spirituality, social justice, and the struggles of life in Jamaica.

In 1977, during the height of his musical career, Lee "Scratch" Perry began to incorporate visual art into his creative expression. He painted occult symbols on vinyl records and plastered the walls of his recording studio with his handprints and spiritual messages. Over time, the studio and its surroundings became a visual shrine, blending words, sound, and images into a synesthetic environment.

Perry eventually transitioned away from music production and focused on creating bricolage and art objects, becoming a wandering nomad after setting fire to his Black Ark studio in 1983. He later settled in Switzerland, where he continues to create multi-layered artworks using a variety of materials and techniques, including paint, mirrors, rocks, photographs, video, and computer-generated poetry. Perry's artwork reflects his spiritual and poetic visions and serves as a testament to his devotion to the divine.