A few weeks ago, Chris was approached, via the website, by Maddie Wheeling, an art student who wanted permission to use Lord of the Ages as a soundtrack for an animation that she was doing. Below you can watch the end result, and also her Artist Statement in which she explains her approach and what led up to her choosing this song.
I think she’s done a marvellous job!
Here is her Artist Statement:
“The Lord of the Ages by Magna Carta was what first inspired me to create this animation. It was a song I first listened to with my grandparents, who showed it to us on our family music nights (we sit around and take turns playing music). My Opa told me that he and my Oma would make my mom and aunt lay down on the floor and listen to this song with their eyes closed, even if they had friends over!
For this project, I listened to it over and over again, letting my imagination take hold and allowing the animation to sort of create itself. I felt that this song has become deeply relevant to what is transpiring today. I thought that by creating a world of other beings akin to people but different enough to create an unbiased experience for everybody; the message would be unclouded by judgement. The otherworldly being (the Lord of the Ages) represents an inevitable and indifferent consequence of “death and destruction”. I wish I included the verses, “his eyes dark with sorrow… the lord of the ages gathered in his harvest” to conclude that these lives have been taken too soon and too needlessly.
I come from a little-known country in Southern Africa called Namibia. I was raised there and have since lived in the US for the last 7 years. I am now studying at the University of Oklahoma as an art student!
This animation is one of my very first animations that I have ever created (and certainly the longest!). It’s a combination of both paper and digital animation. I am quite proud of this creation as it my first step toward my career as an animator with a dream to create a company with my siblings! Look out for Three Headed Beast!!
I also want to give my gratitude for all the support and encouragement from Chris Simpson, he has truly inspired me to create bigger projects and reach for new heights, I am forever grateful.
Maddie Wheeling”
The animation can be watched on YouTube, just click here
Lots of love,
Chris and Cathy xx