MARTIN WAUGH
The uncanny ability of liquids to endlessly morph into random free-flowing formations without ever repeating the same pattern twice is due to the short-range structural regularity of liquid atoms which are semi-organized in bundles that move in relation to each other. When liquid becomes airborne, surface tension interacts with air pressure and gravity to give the formations a continuity which, to the artists eye, is analogous to the thickness of a brush stroke, or the resolution of a digital image.
Through a mastery of high-speed photography, Martin Waugh freezes time—effectively sculpting water into tangible forms of surprising precision and symmetry—forms that otherwise occur too briefly for the eye to observe. By harnessing the potential of natures fundamental relationships between water, air, gravity, and time, the artist offers us images of astounding aleatoric beauty and grace.
December
Martin Waugh combines art and science to capture nature's infinite beauty.
Throughout history, water has calmed the soul, soothed the spirit and healed the wounded. Martin's free-flowing photography evokes images from rolling, rhythmic oceans to drops of water falling upon a lake, taking one on a spiritual journey bounded only by imagination. Martin's creative uses of high-speed photography make it possible to capture the smooth and effortless curves of liquid, eliciting a childlike sense of fun and whimsy.
Interpretations of his work often reveal as much about the viewer as the artist. His images are engaging metaphors for life and are as intriguing to the eye as they are thought provoking. By varying the size, speed and position of drops, as well as the color, viscosity, and surface tension, Martin creates a panorama of color, movement and intrigue. Martin received his B.S. degree in Physics from Lewis and Clark College in Oregon. He lives in Portland, where he has kayaked many of the gorgeous white water rivers the region has to offer. His work can be found in museum, corporate, and private art collections.