Rationale1 | gmacmillandesign

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The Rationale

Visual Art and Music. The classical dialogue of Il Paragone asks which is the superior between Painting and Sculpture.

And a fair question, as both deal with form and colour, from different directions.

Finding the story between visual art and music is more interesting...one might think 'chalk and cheese', but after all, the substance of both consists of vibrational frequencies, in how we receive an impression.

The link is there, and there has been much cross-fertilisation.

I am endeavouring to make a sort of music, in visual form.

I began to develop this work a number of years ago.

It has evolved through several generations, with each stage growing closer toward a mature form.
The first point of understanding concerns 'digital art'; putting those two words together introduces a world of interesting questions.
Digital and Art can belong together. The relationship should go certain ways in order to be true Art, more than graphics or photo-editing or any of the usual uses of computers.

My work has developed into a couple of different approaches: as pictures as such, and as installed work.

While I endeavour to explore the fine art sensibility on the one side, printing on high quality art paper substrates, the installed or decorative design side is much more bespoke, client and location directed, and explores specifically the qualities and potential of printing on glass.

Many other substrates are possible of course, but glass, with its innate noble lustre and practical robustness, offers a viable material in many applications. The interesting thing is that when printed, it emerges as a new material in itself more than simply 'printed glass'.

Both approaches share the aesthetic sense or ideal. The essence of this is a sensibility that working in the digital medium is to work with light itself in a very pure way. This essence is light, is colour, is the the energy which lies behind it. It has no physical form, yet can be manifested into large scale and substantial form.

It is itself, and of itself: it is not an analogue of something else, not trying to represent or resemble something else.

I strive to create images which have innate visual qualities and an organic feeling. There is an aspiration to create a genuine emotional resonance. This can be an uplifting fulfilment, and even something of an ideal joy and happiness....or something a little darker in tone.

This method or manner seems to have within it the potential for a very wide emotional range.

Stylistically it draws upon elements from many different cultural forms; music certainly, and sculpture.
Many, but not 'everything'; there is an overriding element of choice and selection, and in every way is developing into an authentic and integral style.
It is therefore a 'personal' style; particular and unique. Perhaps idiosyncratic, but my guidance remains within a classicist tradition, with lashings of the taste of the early 20th century.

There remains the question of exactly what is this?

People often want to 'see things', in a representational sense. On the other hand, it is absolutely not randomly abstract swirls.

It is something which appears to be there...to varying degrees.
And, ideally, it is 'a thing', more than a 'picture of a thing'.
The best way to experience it is to simply let your mind sweep over the surfaces and feel the sweeps and textures.

The recent fine art work is very much influenced by music: I hope the piece may be read as a piece of music and the colours and vibrational surfaces felt as does one in musical experience.
Separate sections on this site go into a couple of the 'installed' approaches in more depth; the eLustre project and the Vital Harmonics concept, both of which seek to be useful, helpful, and uplifting ín the world.

In any case, I hope you will take pleasure in this work.

very sincerely:

Gregory Macmillan