The Retro Futurist Hero of Industry by Chipka
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Things were different, back then. Long ago. When Chicago—like the world in which it was a part—looked to a brilliant future. You know the one: where we’d have colonies on the moon and vast airships (Think of the Hindenburg) would darken the skies like ponderous, flukeless whales. In those days—long, long ago—it was once declared that everyone would have their own personal airplane by 1982. Highways would stretch forever, while biplanes streamed across the skies like some strange species of angular moth. Architecture made continual nods to a kind of Flash Gordon aesthetic—one where everyone had ivory pale skin and blond hair, where everyone wore togas, stoles, short Roman-style tunics…and Lucite sandals. Hulking ziggurats would loom at the heart of each city, and because time goes forward in ways seldom expected, we can now look back at that future and marvel at the way everything tended to look as if designed (and used) by Ming the Merciless. In that retro-future, lightening would arc across the sky, or the sheer joy of spectacle. Starships had running boards and sleek, rococo flourishes. Of course they were never called “starships.” Such a name does not live up to the Ming-the-Merciless ideal. They were…simply…and perhaps even brutally called rockets.
I thought of that, as I came across this character. He is a diminutive and easily-overlooked component of a building I do not recognize. I couldn’t tell you where it is, but I am sure that I can find it. He’s not far from Piccaso’s enigmatic gift to the city…you know the one, it was in The Blues Brothers and Ferris Beuler’s Day Off.
I like this character. He’s so…well…Art Deco, so much like the useless radiator fins on movie theaters, drive-ins and convenient places for actresses like Fae Wray to swoon and scream as improbable apes climbed (yes, you guessed it,) Art Deco skyscrapers. Other Deco-styled structures (and interiors) served as backdrops for square-jawed Aryan heroes, as they shot ray-guns at the invading hordes of “clay people” or whoever else might be handy. Barsoom and Mongo were the likeliest names for alien planets and kingdoms. Lightening figured prominently in everything. Industry was supreme.
Fossil Fuels were inexhaustible and half the world didn’t exist…well, it did exist, but wasn’t acknowledged.
I can’t say that I cherish those days, but I do love the artwork; and yes, unisex Lucite sandals are an underappreciated sartorial component. I should start a campaign to bring them back, along with heroes who look as if they're skiing and using lightening bolts as poles.
Comments (18)
They did have a lot of interesting artwork back in the day. Nice shot.
wonderful photo!!!!
Cool picture! Yep, the future ain't what it used to be.
Your story, for some strange, odd, surreal reason, makes me think of "The Jetsons". Nothing remotely resemble them, but it's the concept of that idealistic idea of the future. Push a button and VOILA!! dinner is served. Push another and the dishes are done. Guess you could push a button for just about anything. So, yes, I get exactly what you mean. The lucite sandals, though--no way--I refuse to give up my flip flops!!
back to the future in the sleek geometry simplicity of the species savage lines...fine photograph, beautiful light and shadows...a lot of symbolism to explore
If I had to live with only one architectural style for the rest of my life, it would be Art Deco. For whatever reason, it really speaks to me. This is great stuff!
You know, I never noticed the lightening before! But you'rs right, how interesting! I love this period, and in the eclectic mix of styles in my house I have a Deco piano (with green 'black' notes), and several mirrors with deco leanings. It is fascinating how different nations interpreted the style in their own way, and Chicago has always seemed to me (rightly or wrongly) to have a seriously brutal feel to its buildings of this period. I really love your photo, the light is just right to bring out the bas-relief, without losing the warmth of the stone.
As always a beautiful (beautiful?) photo combined with a most thought provoking text, perfectly written: Chipka!
You've nailed it, he's simply adorable. Just like Heylandt Schickelgruber and Maledetto Bertoni. Perfect symbiosis of text and image.
Great capture of this period artwork, Chip. The Art Deco styling is one of my favorite eras...design, furniture and everything else it heralds. Thanks for sharing.
Excellent photo!!!!
I like art deco. Things were cleaner back then, less complicated, with comic book characters and comic book ideals. Great capture and words to match. CC
love it
Oh yes, my favorite style too; wonderful stuff!
For some reason, this reminds me of the "Monster Magnet" we had as kids. I think they made them way stronger than necessary, especially for something that was meant to be a toy. I remember my younger brother trying his out on the refrigerator, and the dents it put into the door once it was close enough to the metal, actually slamming to it noisily. We couldn't pull it off, and had to wait until my dad got home in order to remove the thing,....which was also at the moment the dents were discovered. Sorry, didn't mean to get carried so far away. I've always loved art deco, and have seen this in Chicago, just never associated it with that style and period. My head is so filled with trivial knowledge, and I am yet so uninformed. On the bright side, I am aware of this now, and the knowledge of such will happily fill another of my ever diminishing brain cells. This is a cool shot, it really shows off the depth well. Thanks much for the share, my apologies for the ramble.
Chip, most prophetic! Seems this is what we are all gradually turning into. I like the light on the capture,too.
WOW! How Flash Gordon! This speaks of robust, Roaring-Twenties America, before the bottom fell out into the Great Depression. I love the idea that there was once a feeling of artistic creation about something as utilitarian as a building. People seemed more human back then. The whole idea of "Why not put ornate detail in this space?" "Why not put giant fins on the backs of cars?" We've lost something, and it's probably a part of the reason why Modern America is such a depressing place to live. In our quest for the ever more efficient way to make as much money as possible off the next gadget, we seem to have cooked all of the flavor out of life. Love the narrative, especially the part about skiing with lightening bolts, which is exactly what this picture looks like. Nice capture, and it's good that you noticed this all-too-easily missed gem.
I kinda get a Gibson-esque 1984/Time machine feel, when I first saw this. Very art-deco art...er, that sounds a bit weird, but I hope you know what I mean ? Nicely captured & ~Cheers~