What I learned from M.C. Escher

Today, VEVO will premiere Wildlife Control’s music video for Sponté on their alternative rock channels. This decidedly old-school medium offers an interesting opportunity to have some fun while exploring new ideas. This one has special meaning to me because the unique perspective was inspired by a childhood hero, M.C. Escher. The perspective also ties extremely well to the song’s theme of being present amidst the constant ticking of time.

Escher was quite a unique artist. His life and work reminds me that throughout the history of “humans making things” there are generally two paths: true innovation vs improvements through refined aggregation. Examine the evolution of music, art, literature, philosophy, and even product—and it quickly becomes clear that there are moments that mark a distinct change and catapult a medium into a new era. Those moments are then followed by an era of refinement, essentially the aggregation of different ideas to create improvements. Popular artists today often refer to the latter as their ability to “steal from the best.”

To highlight the above two paths, let's first look at the pre-Baroque era (leading up to ~1600), which was marked by an approach to harmony that was largely based on fourths and fifths. Bach’s introduction of a style of counterpoint that regularly traversed thirds, sixth, and tri-tones created implied harmonies that were radically different at the time, but set the stage for modern harmony as we know it today. This true innovation was largely not understood by Bach’s contemporaries and in many cases dismissed as simply sounding bad. It wasn’t until every future composer discovered the innovation within Bach’s work that his influence over music began to truly take shape.

Later in history, the Romantic era was marked by a period of intense aggregation of art, music, and literature. With more access to a diversity of works due to the Industrial Revolution, artists and creators focused on expressing emotion by aggregating the best aspects of all the previous and current work around them. The painter Bouguereau is the epitome of this type of artist. An incredible technician who was able to combine previously established styles into perfectly executed, stunning paintings. He was, during his lifetime, one of the most popular painters of his generation whose works were extremely popular and sold almost immediately. Yet, interestingly, today 99% of people have no idea who he is. While Bach (who was definitely not the most popular composer during his lifetime) is still remembered today by anyone who listens to Ave Maria or the Cello suite in G Major— both of which perennially remains amongst the most popular pieces of music.

Which brings us back to Escher. At a time where avant-garde, abstract art, and modernism dominated the art world. Escher found his unique voice in highly-detailed, almost mathematical in design, expressions of perspective and time. His art has since inspired countless people around the world to think more deeply about their own perspective and understanding of reality. Through his work, Escher reshaped objects and rooms and in doing so he reshaped the world.

So in honor of Escher and all the people who view things a little differently, who are finding their own voice and perspective, and who create from their heart, I give you this video. If you enjoy it please share it with someone you love, and maybe you’ll help them understand their own perspective just a tiny bit better.