High Plains Drifter

digital maquettes for an installation, 2003

High Plains Drifter, Clint Eastwood's second film as a director (and his first Western) is a variation on the "man with no name" theme, starring Eastwood as the drifter known only as "the Stranger." He rides into the desert town of Lagos and is quickly attacked by three gunmen. Recovering with the aid of a local… the Stranger is hired by the intimidated townsfolk to fend off a band of violent ex-convicts. After teaching the citizens self-defense and instructing them to paint the entire town red and rename it "Hell," the Stranger vanishes. He reappears when the marauding criminals arrive, and delivers justice and teaches the townsfolk a harsh lesson about moral obligation. --Jeff Shannon , Editorial Reviews, Amazon.com

After having seen this film, I became fascinated with the pivotal scene where the town is painted red. As the camera pans down the main (and only) street in town, the visuals are remarkable. The town is obviously a facade built especially for this purpose with some structures left partially unfinished. The first view of the town is a long shot revealing the entire town against a barren landscape. After isolating the town and deleting the landscape, the shapes become unfamiliar, merely signs for 'town' or 'building' or 'architecture'. Shapes to be painted directly onto the wall or cut from vinyl.