Saturday, October 24, 2009
The ABSENCE of Gestalt.
The funny thing with the theory of Gestalt is that the mind is lying to itself.
The logical thing is to depend completely on only what is concrete. Design depends on the visual ability of the human. Design depends on the viewer seeing exactly what they present them with.
With the theory of Gestalt, however, the element of imagination is thrown in.
The element of seeing things that are not there, in reality. We could get really psychological with this and argue upon sensation vs. perception and the ever complicated workings of neurons and optical nerves... but let's just focus on our everyday confrontations with Gestalt.
Scout McCloud (in Understanding Comics) addresses the Gestalt theory with his own childhood fears that the world does not exist wherever he is not directly looking. In addition to imagination, Gestalt requires some degree of trust. We depend on the fact that our senses are in fact not lying to us and do indeed describe a world that is present even when we are looking away. Gestalt is about assumption based on fact, assumption that we know what is not being seen precisely at this moment based on past experiences and sensations.
Khristian Mendoza's photography, however, challenges this visual trust using both 2D and 3D elements.
Gestalt theory causes us to make the logical assumption that the holes in the boards will reveal to the viewer the stomach of the person holding them. Instead, the viewer is presented with what would logically be seen if the person wasn't there. This photoshopping of what is natural seems most uncanny to the viewer. The viewer struggles with the internal Gestalt arguing that this can not be possible. The unity sought by the eye is challenged with what is "factual". What if there were people with holes in their stomach? What if they were actually shifted to the side? What if there were a photo-manipulation program called photoshop? Gestalt does not think this. Gestalt will not even let you consider these ideas rational. Gestalt exists in the fumble to grasp this photo as a 2-dimensional photograph rather than a moment in time in the 3-dimensional world.
The Gestalt theory goes back to evolutionary skills. Despite all the photo-manipulation and over-designing in this world, it is a theory that can not be challenged. Gestalt, the desire for unity, is a powerful thing.
11:55 PM by jamie.