Mat Piranda has blown us away with a stunning Rorschach Photography series. His art simulates nature in perfect symmetry. To achieve that Piranda uses a simple but effective method to mirror his images along the vertical axis in post-production.
The term Rorschach refers to a psychological test method, the so-called Rorschach test. In a Rorschach test symmetric ink patterns are interpreted by a person. The answers are psycho-analyzed to find out about the patient’s personality and emotional set.
Piranda uses the same technique for his photography to provoke interpretation by the viewers.
Swiss psychologist and inventor Hermann Rorschach already thought about the different perception of symmetry and asymmetry in 1942:
“Asymmetric figures are rejected by many subjects; symmetry supplied part of the necessary artistic composition. It has a disadvantage in that it tends to make answers somewhat stereotyped. On the other hand, symmetry makes conditions the same for right and left handed subjects; furthermore, it facilitates interpretation for certain blocked subjects. Finally, symmetry makes possible the interpretation of whole scenes.” (source: Wikipedia.)
By digitally altering the state of nature Piranda proposes many questions –
Is perfect symmetry unnatural?
Maybe even scary?
Are his photos what a perfect world should look like?
What do we see when faced with these patterns?
And which emotions are triggered?
Enjoy Mat’s work below, and answer for yourself.
(h/t Creator’s Project)
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Witness Mathieu Piranda’s ‘Rorschach Photography‘, and let us know in the comments below what you see in these pictures!
“The universe is built on a plan the profound symmetry of which is somehow present in the inner structure of our intellect.”
-Paul Valery “
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Find Mat Piranda’s portfolio here.
Witness more photo manipulation art HERE.
