Abstract Art Analysis 17: Perspective
Travel deep into the canvas through vanishing point, isometric, and depth.
Welcome to AAA 17!
In this edition, we look at three original styles that each utilize a unique play on perspective, among many other interesting techniques. I hope you enjoy it!
Content:
Art:
‘Hintperflections - Edition #11’ by Paolo Curtoni
‘1S0 Composite 231206’ by Frederik Vanhoutte
Unminted Output from ‘Nineteen FX Four’ by Sykcolo
‘Hintperflections - Edition #11’ by Paolo Curtoni
First impression:
I explored the outputs of this collection before reading the description. Most of the pieces have a bold burst of color that quickly catch your eye. Something I really appreciate about all of the mints so far (enough to be representative of the full collection) is how every piece is very unique and complete in composition. I wrote a bit more about that in an X post.
When scrolling through the gallery view, this piece stood out to me as particularly interesting. The first noticeable element is the pronounced use of perspective where lines converge to draw your attention to the smaller square. This background trait can be found in a few other outputs, but none are as obvious and complete as in this one. Secondly, all outputs have their own version of the colored shapes, but this one is the most sparse and least Rorschach-like, allowing for an entirely different experience from the others since you’re mind doesn’t automatically clump the colored shapes together into a larger generalized shape. Instead, they stand alone as a purely abstract scattering of a material as a contrasting element with the rest of the canvas.
Aside from the uniqueness of this specific piece, the real magic lies in the play of multidimensional perspective and focus. Some elements give a sense of depth while others are superimposed over the top in a 2D flatness, effectively entrancing the mind into a near meditative state as your eyes shift back and forth to make sense of it all.
The artist’s description:
"96", you can turn it around and look at it upside down. 96 are also the unique editions of "Hintperflections", a generative artwork embodying a delicate dance of image and reflection, reality and illusion. In this collection, the viewer embarks on a nuanced journey akin to deciphering Rorschach inkblots, each piece sparking a dialogue with the internal realm of emotions and conflicts.
Observers are encouraged to move beyond the conventional anchor of a vanishing point on a tilted horizon. The generated composition thus becomes a quiet space for introspection and imaginative exploration, an interactive dialogue with the artwork resembling the tranquility found in deep meditation.
Every edition presents a unique blend of similarities and differences, reflections and distortions. As familiar shapes evolve and new forms surface, you navigate between recognition and creation. The image subtly blurs the line between the tangible and the ethereal, nudging you towards a deeper exploration of the subconscious.
With its algorithms, "Hintperflections" is a reflection on the nuances of visual perception and personal interpretation. Each piece is a mirror, reflecting more than it conceals, instigating a dialogue about perception, reality, and introspection. Going beyond the mere role of observer, you become an integral part of the unfolding narrative, contributing to the dialogue between art and subjectivity.
The scattered shapes are laid over the canvas in 2D. If you look at other outputs from the collection you’ll see consistency in the way they lay on either side of the thick diagonal line that splits the piece in two. The colored shapes will act as rough mirror images on both sides, but you don’t get that at all in this one. Rather, the shapes appear to be a singular element placed over the top of the whole image.
Another observation is the placement of the shapes. They’re almost centered where the background square naturally draws your attention, creating a spotlight on the shapes. Since the focus is initially on the area of the square and the shapes at that spot are left of center, they scatter nicely to the right above and below the square to help balance the composition. I love how the lower part extends further to make up for the larger portion of open space.
Also pay attention to the use of color here. There’s an obvious gradient being used that suggest these are pieces of a whole that were broken apart. But they may just be randomly colored from a selection of varied degrees of whites and blacks added to an initial red.
There’s an odd detail in the way the textures act when split by the thick diagonal line here. In area 2., you can see a clear change from verticle lines to random particles at the split. However, at 2.1., the texture doesn’t change. This is another illusory effect that doesn’t make logic sense and makes you linger even if you don’t consciously notice it.
There is a small change in color and light composition across the split. It suggests the feeling of a light source shining downward toward the end of the “tunnel” that guides your focus to the bottom half of the diagonal split.
Collect or bid on the piece here.
‘1S0 Composite 231206’ by Frederik Vanhoutte
First impression:
This piece caught my attention right away with its noisy complexity packed tightly within cleanly defined edges. There’s also an optical illusion that initially lead me to believe there are two rectangular boxes that have been overlaid or collided into one another. Your eye wants to created a seam where one of the rectangles overlaps but, upon closer inspection, you realize this is one large shape.
The title, 1SO Composite, tells us exactly what we’re seeing on the surface: a composite of many shapes that use isometric projection, a type of perspective that represents 3D objects in 2D.
After spending a few minutes looking at the piece, I realized there’s a diagonal grid to which every shape adheres. Then it dawned on me that the very method of creating isometric perspective causes all shapes to follow this angle naturally, so the feel of a “grid” is actually just a result of these shapes being near each other.
The piece doesn’t have a singular point of focus, but a more generalized area where your attention begins before traveling around. The weight is generally toward the center of the canvas where the material is most dense and contains more of the larger objects. There is a subtle expansion in the spacing of objects at the top and bottom of the larger shape.
The pastel background color helps give a little more dimensionality and focus to the vivid, highly saturated colors of the main elements.
Collect or bid on the piece here.
Unminted Output from ‘Nineteen FX Four’ by Sykcolo
This is a piece from a long-form generative project that Sykcolo was planning to release in November but he ended up delaying it due to a bug he wanted to fix. It still hasn’t been released but I’m very much looking forward to when it happens. He shared this output in a thread with a few others, all of which are gorgeous.
First impression:
The shear vibrancy and contrast in this piece is very attractive. The colored-pencil texture gives it an impressive natural look. I also love the criss-cross movement happening between the colored lines and the white lines.
The angle of the colored element and the change in size give it some depth perspective that feels like we’re looking at a 3D object that is closer on the right side.
There is a slight sense of depth in the white lines here mostly caused by a convergence to the right that gives the impression of a light source just outside of the canvas.
This area creates a sense of tension and, therefore, acts as a focal point. There’s a feeling a tension being released toward the right.
These simpler and lighter shades give the impression of shadowing, which adds to the sense of depth.
That’s all for this week! Thank you for reading. Feel free to leave some feedback or other observations in the comments and please give it a ❤️ if you enjoyed it. It’s a very small gesture that goes a long way🙏
Be sure to check out previous Abstract Art Analysis, as well as Artist Spotlight and Hot Takes & Education.
Have an awesome week!
-LW❤️🔥