antony clarkson
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Apophenia:
​An Uncanny Presence.
2022

Picture
Whilst exploring painted spaces via my Personal Topographies series I was constantly aware that the next development in this painted process would be the introduction of abstract presences. Although I have been using the word presence to denote the manifestations in my work, I am now wondering if it is perhaps the best word to use. If the presence in question is always, pseudo human should I be considering the idea of anthropomorphism instead? Or perhaps in more global terms pareidolia? Or more properly apophenia? ​

Are you seeing things? Probably!

12/7/2022

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Picture

NN III, charcoal & chalk tonal study.

Picture

NN IV, charcoal & chalk tonal study.

So apophenia...not  a very well known word I grant you. However I feel it is entirely the most appropriate  word to describe the thought process behind my latest body of work. Via apophenia we see patterns or images where they may not actually exist, we all do it, that face in the clouds or the wonderful boxing octopus that is really a coat hook. Of course these are simple observations, but apophenia can be a symptom of something more serious such as schizophrenia. It can also explain the modern tendency to create and believe in conspiracy theories, seeing a pattern in random events where none exists.

On the whole in this blog I will be looking at how the observer may see patterns in abstract or none- representational  art, but on occasions I will widen the field to consider these other aspects of the apophenia. But for now please take a look at the two tonal studies at the top of this post and see what you think; I'd love to know what you can see in them.
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  • CODEX
    • plane >
      • Apophenia: An Uncanny Presence.
      • Control(s)
      • Personal Topographies
      • The Self-Isolation Residency
      • Americana
      • Mauve Skies
      • Scotland
      • Selected Drawing & Paintings,
      • The Teaching Years
      • Spatial Paintings 2006-2008
      • Paintings 2006
    • mass >
      • The Blind Men and the Elephant.
      • Spatial Conceptions 2014 - 2022
      • Painted Objects
      • Autograph
      • The Newtonian Nightmare
    • volume >
      • Enso nest
      • Someone else's storey
      • Shower, The Process Residency 2013,
      • Concrete Haiku
      • Atypical
      • The Murder of Crows.
      • Composition in White (Painting), The Breathe Residency:
      • Composition in White (Sculpture), The Breathe Residency:
      • Floorplan
      • Paper Scissors Rock
      • Pilgrimage
      • The Fifth Column
      • Tension
      • Arch
    • blogs >
      • The Self-Isolation Residency: Blog 2020-2021
      • Apophenia: An Uncanny Presence. 2022
    • artist statement
    • cv & education
    • contact