Something will Manifesto (Week 4)

Perception is fragile.

Right now my interest sits in developing an understanding of perception through creating spatial disturbances that challenge our understanding of perception, ultimately formed through habit, causing us to question our behavior.  These disturbances to our cognitive interpretation of space create questions which promote evolution and growth, as well as conquers complacency and ultimately creates change for the better.  

Critique went well last week.  I presented a perceptual challenge to my cohort and people responded to the experience in various related ways.  Many had questions but none of the questions were from off the field.  I was interested in the experience with my installation.  

There were a few things that I hadn’t thought about yet.  One was the interaction with my hanging grid that seemed to take the space of the viewer with respect to my painting.  The hanging grate was located where a viewer might stand to optimally experience the canvas and in taking that space forced the viewer to exist elsewhere.  I was concerned with guiding people through the space in a way that would minimize interaction with the real light source until they got right up to the painting thus prolonging the illusion.  At this point members of my critique discovered the illusion that I had presented.  I really enjoyed how people focused on the canvas first rather than the light on the floor that was out in the open.  

I showed this piece to a friend of mine, Micheal Geiger, after the critique and he immediately looked for the lightsource that didn’t exist near the ceiling.  I saw him wrestle with the piece for a few seconds before he realized what was happening with the actual light source, the object, and the painting.  It was exactly what I was hoping for and it seemed to happen consistently with many.  I would say that it took people a few seconds to figure it out, some shorter and some longer, but it was proof enough for me that the puzzle worked.  Kieve brought up a great point involving the number of layers that I could present in order to lengthen the challenge to the viewer.  I’ll be exploring this potential further.  It was just so simple and incredible to watch.  

There was discussion around whether I was concerned with creating something sublime.  If this piece was sublime to some, it was never a direct intent for the work and rather just a side effect to my design esthetic. I am digging into this more with my research.