Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis) Documentary - A Snapshot of Album Cover Art's Golden Era
Capturing Soundscapes Through Visual Tapestry: Anton Corbijn's Tribute to Hipgnosis' Artistic Legacy in 'Squaring the Circle'
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In the realm of music history, few documentaries manage to capture the essence of an era, the influence of art, and the creative minds behind iconic album covers as effectively as "Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis)." Directed by Anton Corbijn, a distinguished rock photographer turned filmmaker, this documentary delves into the remarkable journey of the design studio Hipgnosis and its founders, Aubrey "Po" Powell and the late Storm Thorgerson. Corbijn's documentary on the enigmatic design studio Hipgnosis unravels the intricate narrative of the creators who gave birth to the visual identities of rock legends like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and beyond. In this film, Corbijn, renowned for his own album cover designs for iconic bands, masterfully encapsulates the essence of the era when album covers were emblematic of music's visual soul.
Corbijn, known for his exceptional visual storytelling, takes on his first feature documentary with the same dedication and finesse that have defined his career. The film's pace is impeccable, capturing the essence of Hipgnosis's artistic journey while maintaining the viewer's engagement throughout.
Set against the backdrop of the 1960s and 1970s, when LP covers were cherished as art collections in their own right, "Squaring the Circle" transports us back to the intersection of music and artistic expression. The documentary elegantly addresses the contemporary lament of the ever-shrinking album cover art in the digital age, where grandeur and detail are diminished to mere thumbnails.
The crux of the narrative revolves around the dynamic duo of Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey 'Po' Powell, the creative forces behind Hipgnosis. Thorgerson, characterized as the brilliant yet irascible visionary, and Powell, the practical executor of Thorgerson's imaginative concepts, form a captivating partnership that resulted in album covers that have left an indelible mark on music history. Their artistic synergy resulted in album covers that transcended mere packaging, making vinyl records multi-dimensional experiences. The era of land art also found a visual counterpart in Hipgnosis' location shoots, which often took them to deserts, wildernesses, and even the skies with their infamous flying pigs.
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