Above
The cover is a freehand drawing made by himself, of a photograph of him and Demri Lara Parrot, his girlfriend, which has become a true icon of the band, if you name Mad Season you automatically think of the cover of Above.
The original photograph is very artistic, both are naked and bound by their tongues, she holds him tightly, so the final result is just fabulous. In my opinion, this drawing reflects the sense of belonging they had, united as one being, or perhaps categorized as beings made of the same essence.
The drawing made by Layne keeps this concept and highlights it even more with its broad stroke, and in pure black and white colors.
The other drawing we find is one of a man with the head tilted with an expression of regret or suffering.
With the before mentioned plastic technique, it´s is an extension of the same concept.
To speak about the art of this great album, is strictly necessary to speak about Layne Staley. It is his masterpiece, his review as he himself says so. Besides being an extraordinary musician, he was a complete artist, who, led by his artistic sensibility to explore different facets of art, surprises us with the cover of Above.
Inside the booklet (above version 95) there are two more drawings made by Layne.
The first one is a Christ with a crown of thorns, a crucifix around his neck and the mouth is covered. In the book Get Born Again, journalist Adriana Rubio from Argentina, states: “Layne revealed that this Christ is nobody but himself. The necklace that carries the cross is further proof about the way Layne Staley describes himself.”
My pain is self chosen, at least, so the Prophet says.
My pain isself chosen, at least, I believe it to be..
Layne Staley
The drawing is made with the same freehand stroke, with thick lines, and no details. And it´s in black and white. The fact of the covered mouth and tha face with no eyes, evokes the feeling of the anguish and despair.
Shortly after Layne made a photo session for the magazine Pandemonium! emulating the drawing of Christ with a crown of "thorns" , the covered mouth and the face without eyes.
Clearly he wants to send us a message of how he sees himself, using visual techniques, now through photography
Since the plastic artist is Layne Staley, we´ll review what his work was,from his childhood to his last days.
He always had an interest in drawing and graphic art.
Here we see images of his early drawings, since he was a child he was already defining the stroke, with interest in different topics. Sword, Devil ... food?
As a teenager he uses his drawings to disseminate presentations of his early band, Sleze.
This one represents the drummer.
Another promotional Sleze drawing, in which we can see he repeats the same symbol as in the previous one, Layne created a logo for the band and uses it , this time decorated with AC /DC type rays.
Again, the Sleze logo, plus a kind of skull that announces the battle of the bands.
This time with a guitar, the Sleze logo, created by Layne.
When he was more adult, Layne continued his interest in drawing, and when they released Dirt, he would make hiss contribution to the booklet, with a series of drawings. Here we look what was the beginning of the design of the Sun logo, using tribal type drawings filled with AIC initials, he closes it and transforms it into a logo.
These drawings are inside the Dirt booklet , they were used as background texture in grayscale.
Art is the highest expression of human creativity and sensitivity.Art enhances the development of the senses, sensitivity, expression of emotions, intelligence ... Layne grows as a person, he’s more mature now, and also grows as a musician, writer and plastic artist.
This makes me think that as Layne dedicated his life to music, and became a superb musician, if he had dedicated to the visual arts he would have been a featured artist, just lacked the time...It's really amazing to see how his sensitivity and his spiritual quest, made him a complete artist. He not only transmits with his voice and poetry, he also does it with his drawings.
There is no doubt that despite being very young, Layne developed his artistic talents and gave us a part of his essence, a part of his soul.
That´s why we enjoy the complete works of Layne, watching and listening, thinking and thanking his generosity of sharing with us, his short but huge legacy.
Article by: Chainer.
Translated by: Schulz.