Neon Abstract: # 9 (The Tholian Rose) by Chipka
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Description
While working on this image, I listened to the score to the newest incarnation of Star Trek (the swanky J.J. Abrams retrofit of the classic series) and found myself thinking of the classic Star Trek with its lovable but less-than-sleek starships, and computers with teletype sound effects, and women with dangerously large hair-arrangements. As I layered, relayered, tweaked and twiddled until something began to emerge, I thought of my favorite, under-utilized aliens. Star Trek is full of under-utilized aliens. There’s the horta, a silicon based life form that looks suspiciously like a lumpy boulder with flesh bubbles covering its surface; there are those strange, parasitic things (unnamed) like flying pizzas that attach to one’s back; and then there are the Tholians: my favorite xenophobic, space-faring creatures with attitude.
The Tholians appeared initially in a single Classic-Series episode: The Tholian Web and our only glimpse of the beings came to us via the forward viewscreen of the USS Enterprise. The captain of the Tholian vessel looked rather like a quartz crystal (with eyes) filtered through an absinth-induced hallucination. When it spoke, its voice recalled the sharp, metallic grating sound that only a crow might make after swallowing a fax machine. For that mere bit of alienness alone, I rather like the Tholians, belligerent anti-human attitudes not withstanding. I was pleased to see them appear in the disaster of a series known, simply as Enterprise, but alas, they weren’t enough to save the latest (last?) Star Trek series from the muck and mire of really horrendous writing and character non-development. **Note to Star Trek writers: Vulcan women should not wear catsuits.
What I remember most of the Tholians (other than their absinth-hallucination appearance and really cool spaceships) was the way in which they got rid of enemies. Tholians never really opened fire on anyone they didn’t like. They simply sent ships out to meet the incoming pests and then wrap them in an energy web exuded from the disturbingly-rectal openings of their super-sleek military vessels. The webs would then contract, thus providing a visually-interesting ship-death sequence conveniently wedged between commercials. No web contractions were ever seen, however; not that I know of. In their pivotal Classic Series episode, the largely impersonal Tholians wove such a web around the USS Enterprise, and it looked quite a bit like the end result of a spin-and-jiggle “Neon Abstract,” only without the spinning and jiggling.
I didn’t set out to re-create a Tholian energy web, but as I listened to the soaring, dramatic, and vaguely austere musical expressions of Star Trek rebooted, I started thinking of improbable strands of energy woven into complex visual patterns. I started thinking of the underlying philosophy of The Tholian Web: It doesn’t make much sense, but it looks exceptionally pretty on screen. And so in honor of fictional aliens with odd physiological attributes, and a habit of weaving physically-impossible energy-webs, here’s my ninth spin-and-jiggle neon-abstract, a surprisingly fun one to make.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a fantastic week.
Comments (19)
mgtcs
WOW...What a wonderful view here, amazing colors and lighting chip, fabulous writing as usual, congratulations!
Bossie_Boots
Amazing love the colors and design superb fractal art !!
NefariousDrO
I think this is a really cool abstract, especially given what the source-material was. The other side of this is your fascinating ruminations, and that leads me to one of the least-appreciated aspects of Science Fiction that a friend of mine has had to remind me several times: Alien means alien sensibilities and esthetics. Our human esthetics drives our weapons more than we might think (just watch the NOVA episode that was about the competition between two contractors over a jet design for a superb example) and the way we think drives many of our tactical choices. Aliens will have their own way of thinking and it won't be one we can always understand. That's what's so cool about the Tholians' (besides the fact that they just plain don't like us and want to be left alone) weapons and tactics. The message is made plenty clear, but with an alien logic that is a bit baffling to our human logic.
myrrhluz
"The Devil in the Dark" was one of my favorites. I like the way the Horta would shuffle forward and then back. It was interesting how "a lumpy boulder with flesh bubbles" could be made to seem to express emotion. NefariousDrO's comment is very interesting. It's hard to create a creature that isn't in some way human. Some of the most interesting stories are when an author succeeds in this and the interaction between the aliens and humans. Beautiful image. I like the way the strands seem to be coming out of whatever part of the ships anatomies they are coming out of. Superb neon abstract and great narrative!
jocko500
super cool
kgb224
Outstanding work my friend.
beachzz
I keep looking this and see something different each time. It draws me in, then spins another way and I have to figure it out all over again. I love things that do that..keep me guessing!!
durleybeachbum
Very pretty!
whaleman
A nice pattern to repeat!
helanker
SO very beautiful. I can almost see it pulsing in the colors. Like the story behind it too.
MrsRatbag
Wow, this is so cool Chip! I don't remember the Tholians; I know I've seen every Star Trek there ever was many moretimes than just once, so I must have seen them, but alas... my memory has increasingly large pieces that don't seem to function the way it used to. At any rate, this is a wonderful tribute!
Sepiasiren
Oh wow--stunning work--loooove the colors--almost leaps off the screen at you. The framing and the stark line also give it movement--a well done piece Chipka!
RodS
Well, this is very cool, Chip - and it does remind me of the Tholians' web. That was one of my favorite OST episodes (my favorite of course was the one with the Tribbles..). I'll have to admit I rather like hot Vulcan chicks in catsuits, just as long as they don't do that shoulder-pinch thing. I really hate it when they do that... I'd love to see a crow swallow a fax machine... Now, THAT would be entertaining! LOL!
flavia49
fantastic work!!
auntietk
I can see the Tholian craft in the center of the web. Fascinating. :P
UVDan
I love your story... and the artwork. Live long and perspire.
jac204
Nice "energy web" you have spun here.
danapommet
Always wonderful narrative and a gorgeous addition to your "neon abstract" series. Dana
icerian
You can play with your photos in very nice way.