Photography Self Portrait Research and Contextualisation

Tool, one of the most influential in the most innate sense on modern music, and probably the most mysterious progressive rock band of the last two decades. Their whole discography goes through a very elaborate journey. Their earlier sound was very rough and energetic, with Maynard's gross lyrical imagery is very intense and has a very pessimistic view on humanity as a whole. going from 'Opiate' to 'Undertow' and then 'Anaemia' there is a subtle progression of gradual frustration and resentment towards the human race, or american society. Each album progresses from what the other left off from, and each are more technically advanced and lyrically my cryptic and 'deep and meaningful'.

   From 'Anaemia's' last song on the album 'Third Eye', is almost a glimpse into the future, it is almost as if they were setting themselves us for their mind altering, transcendental, musical masterpiece, 'Lateralus'. It was with this album that the solidified their genius! On this album are truly mesmerising sounds, conveying a whole range of thoughts and feeling, mostly generated around spiritual development, and broadening conscious to see and feel the whole untapped world that underlies our existence. The significant themes of this album there are, reconnecting to oneself, reconnecting to others and the universe in total. The theme of  the transcendental is tightly woven into the music and art alike.

 That is because the Artist who created the artwork for both Lateralus and 10,000 days, is no other than Alex Grey. This i see is a clear pathway from musical quartet to artistic master mind. i first listened to the album, then i saw the art, and researched up who the artist was and i came across his whole body of work. I amazed me! the themes of his work seemed to resonate deeply with me as if i had already seen them before, especially the 'Net Of Being'. it had a profound effect on me when i first saw it.

With these two artists, i decided to create a poster for Tool, a new Tour, and album, would be included, and as Alex Grey has done the artwork for both of their latest releases it only seems natural to make the subject of alex grey decent. Thus my final work will look like this.