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The Art Of Taking Time To Create

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This week marked the launch of our first iGNANT Issue: ‘The Art Of Waiting’. This time, we wanted to show you the topic not simply interpreted through the body of art, but rather reflected in one artist’s overall practice.

The creative process takes nothing but the utmost level of patience – one that becomes an art form in itself. So far, you can see the exclusive editorial on the topic, read about the men who, in placing their bets, wait patiently for their lucky day to come, and contemplate the notion of time with our think piece. Although the subject matter of the Welsh artist Ben Johnson‘s hyperreal paintings is architecture, the creative process takes nothing but the utmost level of patience – one that becomes an art form in itself. Johnson has been painting the panoramas of the world’s biggest cities as well as monumental interiors since 1967. As most hyperreal images, his painting feature tens of thousands of intricate details which – along with the artist’s perfectionism – can extend the creation process up to 17 years for a single artwork. Through his practice, Johnson searches for tranquility and peace. Asked why he actually undertakes such a time-consuming process, he says: “It’s what I do, I mean, I’ve been doing this for so long […] It’s a way to keep myself sane.”

f7Ben_Johnson_Art_patio_de_los_arrayanes_2015_yatzer
f11Ben_Johnson_Art_room_of_the_niobids_ii_2013_yatzer
f5Ben_Johnson_Art_tokyo_pool_2006_yatzer
f9Ben_Johnson_Art_through_marble_halls_1996_yatzer
f16Ben_Johnson_Art_the_unattended_moment_1993_yatzer
f3Ben_Johnson_Art_british_museum_great_court_yatzer
f15Ben_Johnson_Art_ibm_north_harbour_1984_yatzer
f6Ben_Johnson_Art_study_for_far_horizons_i_2009_yatzer
f8Ben_Johnson_Art_three_moments_of_illumination_1998_yatzer
f13Ben_Johnson_Art_hong_kong_panorama_1997_yatzer

 

All images © Ben Johnson

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