Hugh Parker Guiler
Encyclopedia
Hugh Parker Guiler also known as Ian Hugo was Anaïs Nin
's husband from 1923 until her death in 1977, and a skilled engraver and filmmaker in his own right.
where he studied economics and literature.
He was working at National City Bank when he met Anaïs Nin. They married in March 1923. In 1924, they moved to Paris
, and in that city Nin’s wrote the best know part of her famous diary. In 1939, shortly before World War II
, Parker and Nin moved back to New York City. In 1940, he took up engraving and etching, studying under Stanley William Hayter
of Atelier 17 in Paris, producing surreal images that often accompanied Nin’s books. He received advice and instruction in filmmaking from Alexander Hammid, who told Guiler "Use the camera yourself, make your own mistakes, make your own style". He adopted the name Ian Hugo in the 40's when he began making experimental films, some starring Nin.
His successful banking career supported not only the very late recognized artistic work of his wife, and later his own, but also that of Henry Miller
and to a lesser extent of various other artists. His unusual tolerance and unconditional love, as well as his income, made Anaïs' unusual work and life possible.
Because of Anaïs' Madame Bovary
way with money, his dedication to the arts and taking more risks later in life, he needed the money that Anaïs' writing brought so late in their lives. His own art was never financially successful.
The film Bells of Atlantis (1952) features a soundtrack of electronic music
by Louis and Bebe Barron
, and stars Nin as a mythical queen of Atlantis. In Jazz of Lights (1954), also featuring a score by the Barrons, the street lights of Times Square
become, in Nin’s words, "an ephemeral flow of sensations".
Hugo lived the last two decades of his life in New York City, dictating his memoirs and continuing his engraving and filmmaking work. He briefly met Nin's other husband, Rupert Pole
, after Nin's death in 1977. Even though Nin and Pole's 1955 marriage was annulled in 1966, Pole was Nin's literary executor
after her death.
Anaïs Nin
Anaïs Nin was a French-Cuban author, based at first in France and later in the United States, who published her journals, which span more than 60 years, beginning when she was 11 years old and ending shortly before her death, her erotic literature, and short stories...
's husband from 1923 until her death in 1977, and a skilled engraver and filmmaker in his own right.
Biography
Guiler was born in Boston, Massachusetts, lived in Puerto Rico as a child, went to school in Scotland, and graduated from Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
where he studied economics and literature.
He was working at National City Bank when he met Anaïs Nin. They married in March 1923. In 1924, they moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and in that city Nin’s wrote the best know part of her famous diary. In 1939, shortly before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Parker and Nin moved back to New York City. In 1940, he took up engraving and etching, studying under Stanley William Hayter
Stanley William Hayter
Stanley William Hayter , CBE was a British painter and printmaker associated in the 1930s with Surrealism and from 1940 onward with Abstract Expressionism. Regarded as one of the most significant printmakers of the 20th century, in 1927 Hayter founded the legendary Atelier 17 studio in Paris...
of Atelier 17 in Paris, producing surreal images that often accompanied Nin’s books. He received advice and instruction in filmmaking from Alexander Hammid, who told Guiler "Use the camera yourself, make your own mistakes, make your own style". He adopted the name Ian Hugo in the 40's when he began making experimental films, some starring Nin.
His successful banking career supported not only the very late recognized artistic work of his wife, and later his own, but also that of Henry Miller
Henry Miller
Henry Valentine Miller was an American novelist and painter. He was known for breaking with existing literary forms and developing a new sort of 'novel' that is a mixture of novel, autobiography, social criticism, philosophical reflection, surrealist free association, and mysticism, one that is...
and to a lesser extent of various other artists. His unusual tolerance and unconditional love, as well as his income, made Anaïs' unusual work and life possible.
Because of Anaïs' Madame Bovary
Madame Bovary
Madame Bovary is Gustave Flaubert's first published novel and is considered his masterpiece. The story focuses on a doctor's wife, Emma Bovary, who has adulterous affairs and lives beyond her means in order to escape the banalities and emptiness of provincial life...
way with money, his dedication to the arts and taking more risks later in life, he needed the money that Anaïs' writing brought so late in their lives. His own art was never financially successful.
The film Bells of Atlantis (1952) features a soundtrack of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
by Louis and Bebe Barron
Louis and Bebe Barron
Bebe Barron and Louis Barron were two American pioneers in the field of electronic music...
, and stars Nin as a mythical queen of Atlantis. In Jazz of Lights (1954), also featuring a score by the Barrons, the street lights of Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
become, in Nin’s words, "an ephemeral flow of sensations".
Hugo lived the last two decades of his life in New York City, dictating his memoirs and continuing his engraving and filmmaking work. He briefly met Nin's other husband, Rupert Pole
Rupert Pole
Rupert Pole was a husband of Anaïs Nin, and her literary executor.Pole was born in Los Angeles. His father Reginald was a highly regarded Shakespearean actor...
, after Nin's death in 1977. Even though Nin and Pole's 1955 marriage was annulled in 1966, Pole was Nin's literary executor
Literary executor
A literary executor is a person with decision-making power in respect of a literary estate. According to Wills, Administration and Taxation: a practical guide "A will may appoint different executors to deal with different parts of the estate...
after her death.
Selected Filmography (as Ian Hugo)
- Ai-Ye (1950)
- Bells of Atlantis (1952)
- Jazz of Lights (1954)
- Melodic Inversion (1958)
- The Gondola Eye (1963-71)
- Through the Magiscope (1969)
- Apertura (1970)
- Aphrodisiac I (1971)
- Aphrodisiac II (1972)
- Ian Hugo: Engraver and Filmmaker (1972)
- Levitation (1972)
- Transmigration (1973)
- Transcending (1974)
- Luminiscence (1977) made with Arnold Eagle
- Reborn (1979)