M. Blair Ligon · Computer Painting · Fine Art Prints · Pietra Dura Series
Often a new beginning is accompanied by loss. Just as harmonies of structure, line and mass exist in the construction of houses, trees and people, the destruction of these also creates a harmonic vibration. They resonate together in their ruin and erosion. December exists for us all as a beautiful but terrifying process where the old makes way for the new.Napoleon's Arrival is built upon the dissolution of patterns and (conversely) the creation of new structure from the repetition of chaotic events. The flow of the composition was influenced by Charles Joseph Minard's illustration of the losses suffered by Napoleon's army in the Russian campaign of 1812, which Edward Tufte calls "Probably the best statistical graphic ever drawn..."Napoleon Robinson and his wife, Gertrude, arrived in my rural community in the 1930's, wanderers of the Great Depression. Gertrude was my nanny. Gertrude died in 2006 at the age of 102. Napoleon passed in 1990, but no one knew how old he was. Napoleon's Arrival is made from my photographs of their house, built by my grandfather, but now falling into disrepair.
The artwork always involves the systemization of patterns generated by chance combinations of images of decay and renewal. Noise created by the corrosion of images is exaggerated, layered and explored. These forms speak of spirits who have gone before us and those who will follow.
| Napoleon's Arrival Limited edition of 5 14.25 x 19" |
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1st Place, Digital Media The Artist's Magazine 2009 All-Media Online International Competition |
Often a new beginning is accompanied by loss. Just as harmonies of structure, line and mass exist in the construction of houses, trees and people, the destruction of these also creates a harmonic vibration. They resonate together in their ruin and erosion. December exists for us all as a beautiful but terrifying process where the old makes way for the new.Napoleon's Arrival is built upon the dissolution of patterns and (conversely) the creation of new structure from the repetition of chaotic events. The flow of the composition was influenced by Charles Joseph Minard's illustration of the losses suffered by Napoleon's army in the Russian campaign of 1812, which Edward Tufte calls "Probably the best statistical graphic ever drawn..."Napoleon Robinson and his wife, Gertrude, arrived in my rural community in the 1930's, wanderers of the Great Depression. Gertrude was my nanny. Gertrude died in 2006 at the age of 102. Napoleon passed in 1990, but no one knew how old he was. Napoleon's Arrival is made from my photographs of their house, built by my grandfather, but now falling into disrepair.
1st Place, Digital Media
The Artist's Magazine
2009 All-Media Online Competition
The artwork always involves the systemization of patterns generated by chance combinations of images of decay and renewal. Noise created by the corrosion of images is exaggerated, layered and explored. These forms speak of spirits who have gone before us and those who will follow.
All images copyright 2009, M. Blair Ligon,
all rights reserved worldwide.