Can this change your perspective?

Catastrophic stars

Martina Poschiavin

This project called Catastrophic stars it is a fragmentation of photos from reality using the kaleidoscope effect. I chose to use this effect because it is a “happy technique”, since is usually used by children and it creates a fantastic world.

The picture shown have a dark turn if the viewer will carefully analyse it. The idea behind this project is to trick the viewers mind into believing it is something beautiful, but only after a second look at the image would have found out it is the complete opposite.

Modifying the perception of this effect by using pictures of catastrophes, both natural and man-made, I wanted to instigate the viewer and make it analyse the picture better instead of just stopping at the appearance of it. This publication is a reminder of the power of nature and how people are so little when it comes to catastrophic events.

A project made in the course

in situ

In 1974, French writer Georges Perec spent three days observing Place Saint-Sulpice, a public square, in Paris. While doing so, he took notes, about events and non-events – the whole idea was an experiment to capture a particular place in a literary and experimental way. Places are the visible manifestation of complex social interdependencies, which, beyond the obvious function of a place, provides information about its history and its relationship to the present, e.g. about its creation, preservation, destruction or appropriation, about ownership and power.
More projects by Martina Poschiavin