The computer graphic "quiet town" captivates viewers. The title itself sets the stage for an ironic exploration, as the visual elements of the piece contrast sharply with the expected serenity suggested by the name.
The work is dominated by a gigantic, sun, which occupies a significant portion of the upper half of the composition. Its surface, marked by swirling hues of yellow and green, is reminiscent of a stormy, turbulent atmosphere typical of the explosive— but from a distance—lifegiving landscape.
The color palette alone sets a discordant tone, suggesting unrest rather than peace.
Surrounding this unsettling sun are formations that evoke the imagery of clouds, though their atypical red coloring and jagged edges suggest something more sinister, akin to flames or fallout from a cataclysm.
These 'clouds' are dense, almost suffocating the sky, and convey a sense of impending doom rather than the stillness one might associate with a 'quiet town.'
Below this chaotic sky, the town itself is rendered in shades of blue and gray, which traditionally symbolize calm and stability.
However, this veneer of tranquility is disrupted by the stark contrast of the aerial tumult above.
In the foreground of "quiet town," we observe a meticulously drawn cityscape, characterized by a blend of urban elements such as antennas, telecommunications wires, water towers, and modern buildings that underline an ostensibly peaceful habitation.
However, the juxtaposition of the disturbing celestial phenomena above challenges this sense of serenity.
The turbulent sun does not conform to the expected calmness of a night sky in a quiet town. Instead, it introduces a powerful counter-narrative, suggesting hidden chaos and underlying tension. The irregular texture and vivid color add an eerie, unsettling quality to the cosmic body, turning the sun into an unconventional harbinger of turmoil.
Skyler uses these visual contradictions to symbolize the facade of tranquility that often masks deeper, unseen disturbances within our environments or societies. At the same time, he suggests in the spirit of his own father, that a powerful turmoil-however destructive—has its procreative results.
