Pareidolia (/ˌpærɪˈdoʊliə) is the tendency for perception to impose a meaningful interpretation on a nebulous stimulus, usually visual, so that one sees an object, pattern, or meaning where there is none.
I’m using this phenomena as a source of endless inspiration when I use the guest bathroom at our home. While sitting there I stare at the fine lines and patterns of the floor tiles, and all kind of phantasy birds and other creatures stare back at me!
This is really a lucky find as it happens totally effortless and almost accidentally. I then use these “accidents” as a starting point for my character drawings, adding a few details until a new species evolves (not only of birds, but often).
It has now been researched that “faking” faces activate the same visual mechanisms in the brain as real ones. Obviously recognizing others is important for our coexistence and even for survival, namely being able to recognize enemies and potentially dangerous animals in time. So there is an evolutionary advantage to recognizing faces.
I made my pareidolia birds into a set of postcards of eight. If you’re interested in purchasing them (€ 10), please don’t hesitate to drop me a line on: info(at)andrepricedesign.com
