Wednesday, December 24, 2008

More beautiful decay!


Most people think of tarnished metal, rotten wood, and flaking paint as something to be remedied and restored. I do too, in the case of an old vehicle there can be no greater satisfaction than bringing a once derelict machine back to life.

My concept of Beauty in decay simply means that before the restoration begins, quite often the vehicle has weathered and changed by a combination of time and neglect to become something else... it becomes art!

Many of the older cars and trucks were made of considerably thicker steel than today, and while standing out in all weathers would take it's toll on the paint and metal, the fantastic sweeping curves of the old 40's/50's styling, combined with what seems to be a refusal to crumble to dust means that these old jalopies simply manage to evolve into a textured canvas.



The patina on these old fella's wouldn't look amiss on canvas in an art gallery, and yet they are created randomly from nature, like fingerprints no two models will ever corrode the same thus making a unique and beautiful pattern of time worn paint and rust!


Once tuned in the eye will begin to detect instances of the beauty to be found in decay, In the end you will begin to see art in the most unlikely of places!

Now tell me the work below couldn't be hung in an expensive gallery? Keep looking at those old or abandoned vehicles, and pretty soon you will begin to find works of art too!


These examples were taken from a chap going by the name of Shadowplay
See more of his work by clicking on the name.

Finally, a Merry Christmas to anyone that might be reading these ramblings! I'll end with a suitably festive photo.

1 comment:

The Viewliner Limited said...

A Christmas message from Richard on board the Viewliner Limited:

May this Christmas end the present year on a cheerful note
and make way for a fresh and bright new year.

Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!