Saturday

Trial by fire



Much of my abstract inspirations come from industrial sites where corrosive elements coincide with fabricated structures, however this time I found myself in a parking lot, behind Barnes & Noble bookstore, admiring a dumpster.
What made it different from the usual ‘beat-up, graffiti spray painted’ and just trashy dumpster was, that at some point it had endured an internal fire. This caused the exterior to undergo some very interesting and dramatic changes to its surface and over time nature’s elements added to the outcome of the fire, including that of the refuse collectors and the stores personnel.



Full moon rising among planets


Though the dumpster is in plain view, I am sure little attention is given to its presence, except for someone in need of boxes for shipping, storage or a move, for the stores stockroom person has broken down and nicely folded their shipping boxes and deposited them in the ‘paper and cardboard only’ dumpster.



Blistering steel


The garbage container with its two metal covers swung back and filled to the brim with cardboard boxes appeared of no special interest at first glance, especially from a distance. After a second look, one that was more direct and focused to its mid and lower section, I was dragged into its seductive trap.
Upon closer examination it became clear that it was time to pull out the tripod and camera from the trunk of the car, grab myself a couple of the shipping boxes from the dumpster to serve as ground cover to sit upon and I begin taking pictures for the next forty or fifty minutes.



Innate combustion — Into the inferno’s abyss


What I had discovered was a wonderful abstract realistic palette of only the primary colours, including a host of varied textures, all of which were interacting with the random marks of human intervention.



Petroglyphs


Each image was carefully framed in the viewfinder until it satisfied personal compositional sensitivities and what I saw and tried to illustrate before pressing down on the shutter release. While with each passing minute the metal surface began unfolding more and more of its encrypted stories like a good book. There, in the depths of the pages, the Shamans hand points to the petroglyph, where the sun’s rays bless the land, there the buffalo and antelope roam plenty along the a river that empties into the lake.


Warnings too are foreshadowed, for when the full moon rises among the planets, from the depths of the inferno’s abyss, the land will shifts, erupt in a combustion of energy and its force will swell to the surface, unleashing a tsunami that travels the seas until it reaches the land of blistering steel.



The Tsunami




If we let our imagination be free to interpret what
our eyes have witness, we will see so much more.

For “the job of the artist
is to always deepen
the mystery

—Francis Bacon.




Thank you for your visit

Egmont




32 comments:

Gina said...

ah lovely ... as you know this appeals to a huge demographic ...the artists who dabble in abstracts, who collect pictures of rusty happenings and found materials ... amongst others ...

what i love is that you have framed and titled each viewing to make it a completed painting.... luverly ...

really really enjoyed and hope all is well with you Egmont >>> Gina

Ian Foster said...

Very nice work Egmont, you have found a real treasure house of images on just one site and your titles are very apposite.

I look forward to seeing some of these worked up into paintings in the future, they will be really stunning if you can pull it off.

Congratulations on these great shots.

Arslan Ahmedov said...

Mmmm... very very beautiful series!
congrats,
all the best,
Ars

Sam Liu said...

Wow, what a magnificent post. Those photographs are wonderful, you've found the most magical of Art in the most unexpected of places.

Unknown said...

Dear Egmont,
You have released the beauty of the common dumpster! I marvel at these images and the deeper meanings you've conveyed through them. Magnificent. Thank you.
Warmest regards,
Kathy

Carolyn Abrams said...

Egmont, your work is fascinating not only in the results but in how you interpreted your subject. Thank you for sharing!

Kelly M. said...

Egmont -- wonderful entry on the natural textures that corrosion and decay create. I have followed trucks on the highway just to view their rotted bumpers and actually missed exits! The colors and patterns amaze and humble the artist. Beautiful framing and titles, too. Find a gallery quickly please!!!

ArtPropelled said...

You've zoomed into some beautiful abstracts, Egmont. The Tsunami is particularly striking with the spray off the wave..... And all to the exquisite strains of the Moonlight Sonata.

Anna Mavromatis said...

the circumstances + the elements' touch + your camera's lenses combined with your ability to "see", mind set and sensitivity to react brought out these wonderful images. Bravo!!!
PS I just wish there was no white border and no writing/titles attached...

Caterina Giglio said...

My Dear Egmont,

I love it that you fell in love with a dumpster!
that is so wonderful... and reminds me of my wire story!
I became enchanted with the sidewalks last week and i think only you would understand!!
these are particularly fabulous shots! well done!

Thea Schrack said...

Another great dumpster find! So inspiring, thanks.

ooglebloops said...

I will never look at a dumpster the same way again!!! You have the ability to find beauty in the most common things, that most of us don't give a a second glance.

I am catching up on blog reading-I have missed a few- love your "love" letter also...............

Shayla said...

Egmont, Your rusted metal series is exceptional. The photos tell a story besides being rich in colors and textures. Beautiful compositions.

Jeanne Henriques said...

Seek and you shall find...these are wonderful Egmont. Never say never is definitely the case here!

Jeanne :)

S. Etole said...

The thought you give to what you do and say is commendable ... the photos are worthy of much viewing.

Poetic Artist said...

Egmont,
These are truly stunning. The dumpster where the trash is inside and the beauty is on the outside of the walls of the beholder.
Thank you for sharing.
Katelen

-Don said...

Egmont, I've been back three times to look at these wonderful works of art and I find something new to enjoy each time. Thank you for sharing these gems, and for showing us that beauty can be found anywhere, if we just look. OUTSTANDING!

-Don

Eva said...

These are absolutely wonderful! I have photographed interesting natural textures and designs for years, but have never been fortunate enough to find such a wonderful subject.I envy your discovery and selective eye.Thanks for sharing them.

Maggie Neale said...

Hello Egmont, so glad to be visiting today. You have captured some lovely abstracts, framed them out well and your imagination on what you have captured is excellent in poetic titles. The whole post is captivating! Bravo!

Paul C said...

Absolutely wonderful. How ironic that a dumpster can provide such vivid images for the artist. I see a coffee table book here: Dumpster Delirium/Delight/Quest?

Mark Sheeky said...

Excellent! Especially with Beethoven!

Sophie Munns said...

Stunning, wonderful, thought-provoking work Egmont..
Masterful!
Sophie

ps now I stand and applaud!

Blue Sky Dreaming said...

Your enchantment with these beautiful raw elements shows in the way you have composed these photos...neglected, abused and splattered metal walls have become reflections of planets, faces and universes untold. Good for you setting up your camera and finding your inspiration where you find it!

Ange said...

Magnificent Egmont. Sigh...I am relieved to be back. This was a marvellous story and explanation. A veritable revelation each time ...

Unknown said...

you are doing such wonderful work that you must be thinking of us poets as crazy with an unproductive passion!
But we blogger friends are proud of you!

Sylvie said...

I love these images .. your interpretations.. that you express so beautifully. So inspiring..! The common things of life which most people pass by, are usually quite beautiful.I'm pleased to have found you..keep looking in the bins..! love Beethoven too ! ..sarah

red gray black white said...

rust is another formidable art medium i think...you have done amazing things with it here

your very encouraging comment made my day ..elk

San said...

Rich images. And the connectedness you've discovered between them is very interesting indeed--I really enjoyed reading your narrative.

layers said...

it is amazing how the beauty of rust and textures created by nature can elevate ordinary objects- even a dumpster.

tess stieben said...

The "petroglyphs" are an amazing find. It amazing what beauty there is to find wherever one chooses to look for it.

SKIZO said...

In your honour and in honour of wall the Illustrators and Painters, I published
an illustration.

Kristin H said...

Found the "Into the inferno´s abyss" intriguing and beautiful. The rust with the yellow light and a dear blue ocean touch...