Architectural subjects perhaps give the greatest sources of inspiration for the theme 'Grids', whether it be single buildings, as with David Hepher's photo realistic image above, or the cityscape as a whole, such as Vieira da Silva's intricate patterned interpretation below.
Tommy Cinquegrano's images at first glance look like one building, but on closer inspection you can see they are made up of multiple images taken from different sources, as in the image below. He relies on the common grid-like structures of the buildings to allow him to combine his photos so successfully.
Seeing the geometric patterns within a scene is the source of inspiration for a diverse range of artists. William Gilles' almost naive view of a fishing harbour (below) evokes childhood memories.
Whilst Lyonel Feininger's work (below) takes on a Cubist sensibility in both tone and colour.
The connection with George Braque's still life pieces is obvious, an example of which is below. Braque, along with Picasso, pioneered the Cubist movement.
David Hockney has long been fascinated with Cubism and much of his work reflects the theme of grids, whether it be his 'joiner' photographic work (as above), or his more recent depictions of the Yorkshire landscape and the patchwork patterns of the hedgerows and fields (below).
Jerry Gretzinger takes this idea further by using maps and aerial views as his main inspiration.
Another interesting interpretation of the photographic joiner, are French design practice PNTS's kaleidoscopic works (below), where the pattern element becomes the dominant factor.
A familiar landscape can disappear because of a range of factors. David Hockney has recently spoken out about the threat to the countryside by development and changes to planning regulations. But it isn't always man that threatens the natural environment, sometimes nature itself is the cause. Julian Perry's work tackles the issue of coastal erosion with depictions of floating trees and houses.
For generations artists have recorded the ongoing battle between the sea and the land. Joan Eardley's atmospheric paintings come from her own intimate knowledge of living in a small cottage on the wild northern coastline (below).
Natural decay can also cause the landscape to disappear. German artist Horst Janssen was fascinated with the textural qualities of old tree trunks and he produced a whole series of intricate etchings of this subject an example of which is below.
Man made landscapes can also disappear. The cityscape is constantly changing, old buildings being renovated or replaced by new. War artist John Piper recorded the results of bomb damage on British cities. One of his best known paintings is of Coventry Cathedral in November 1940.
Through her reworked photographs (above) and her sculpture (below), Rachel Whiteread has explored the idea of ghost buildings. She filled a house that was about to be demolished with concrete to preserve the inside even when the outside was gone.
Another interpretation of 'Disappearing Landscape' could be that of mist or fog. In Adolphe Valette's views of Manchester (one example is below), the pollution from thousands of factory and mill chimneys created a thick smog.
