STORM ELVIN THORGERSON
1944 - 2013
R.I.P.
Its always surprising to realise how pervasive someone's artwork is. Thorgerson's work proved to be not just influential and definitive but extraordinarily memorable. Just looking through anyone's album collection, as I have my own, will illustrate this.
His originality and usage of techniques to create surreal realities (image juxtaposition, play with focus and exposure, airbrushing) now becomes a prescient and impressive echo of the computer generated design of today.
He was creative in many areas, also producing books, commercials and music videos. His 1993 documentary "The Art of Tripping " was not only edgy but an interesting take on drug usage.
A few years ago I was reminded of just how definitive Thorgerson's work was. While visiting Paris, having been invited by Laurent Kaus to a dinner party at the home/studio of a well known French musician, a discussion developed about the possible covers for a forthcoming album. The conversation reflected on how immediate one of the designs was since it was in the "English" style of Hipgnosis.
