It’s more of a feeling than a location.
Aside from locations literally setting the stage in a story, buildings, monuments, and scenery can enhance and develop moments sometimes beyond words themselves. Architecture specifically has the power to mimic landscapes, rebuild the human form and translate time into a lasting monument. Be it in film or on paper, moments and experiences can transcend dialogue when paired with an unforgettable, symbolic location. Whether it’s the overwhelming feeling of vertigo, the unbearable weight of grave conclusions, or the glittering burst of joy, these experiences are made deeper and richer with the power of stunning visuals and meaningful settings.
Here are some of the locations & buildings that have inspired the prints I have made throughout the years:
- Hawkins Laboratory – This spooky show is made only spookier with the knowledge that the building that plays home to the Hawkins National Laboratory was once a mental illness hospital. Today it is part of Emory University in Atlanta Georgia.
- Vulcan – The planet Vulcan has been a location for the Star Trek series dating all the way back to the original TV show. Originally it was filmed in the outskirts of LA at the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park. Since then the landscape of the park has been recreated and digitzed to create the landscape of the whole planet.
- New York: 1933 – Originally this print was created for the 75 year anniversary of the original King Kong movie. Since then we have seen just a few more King Kong flicks come out. The Empire State Building is probably one of the most filmed and iconic buildings in the world and matches the themes and grandeur of King Kong perfectly.
- Kansas 2044 – While the location is partially fictional because it takes place in the future, I think the feeling and location of Kansas is still an interesting choice for this film. In the third act of this action sci-fi you would expect a big climax, but this film does not go down that path. Instead the film slows down to a country lifestyle. We find ourselves in a farm in the middle of nowhere instead of some futuristic sci-fi locale. The scene where the protagonist talks with his older self takes place in a diner, a diner! As with all good movies the science fiction concepts are just a tool to create great characters going through extra ordinary circumstances.
- Australia – Not only is the Mad Max series of films some of the best to come out of Australia, the setting and story is so tied to the landscape of the country. Dry arid land sets the tone for the story, isolation and dystopic themes of the movie franchise. It simply would not feel the same if it took place anywhere else.
- Initech offices – The movie Office Space is filled with feelings of a stale, soul-less, office environment. The building used to film this movie is a perfect compliment to these themes. An nondescript strip mall in Austin taxes was the place where Mike Judge decided to film this movie.
Hawkins National Laboratory from the series Stranger Things – Filmed at Emory State university
