Flat Optics
![Static Max, 2021, 16”x12”x1”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ab391b9e4c3fcdac687bbb1e45a76d025f5db86e1328a7515b75970038566420/2_e_smith.jpg)
![Static Max, 2021, 16”x12”x1”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a9df2a6723de4ad33f76893fb65db08cb00dbad063af39dca436fd9b2cec452e/1_e_smith.jpg)
![Static Max, 2021, 16”x12”x1”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/199a1f444c79949529f289a1a0098293bf8c4bff95071504f197a097069e543b/maxside2.jpg)
A fascination with 2D vs 3D arose with an interest in digitizing work, this fascination extended to visually flattening 3dimensional objects. In Static Max, a dizzying striped pattern on a 3dimensional relief of Max Headroom obscures the dimension while alluding to television static or dazzle camouflage.
In the Magic Eye/Rorschach series, a 3Dimensional Rorschach image is flattened by an overwhelming pattern which references the Magic Eye posters of the 90’s. In these posters, a “3D” image supposedly pops out at you once you relax your eyes, something that was always a struggle, leaving the incapable viewer to hypothesize what the image actually was. The Rorschach was chosen as a subjective nod to that hypothesizing, the making up of a meaning behind the very objectively obvious image that could never be seen on a Magic Eye poster.
In the Magic Eye/Rorschach series, a 3Dimensional Rorschach image is flattened by an overwhelming pattern which references the Magic Eye posters of the 90’s. In these posters, a “3D” image supposedly pops out at you once you relax your eyes, something that was always a struggle, leaving the incapable viewer to hypothesize what the image actually was. The Rorschach was chosen as a subjective nod to that hypothesizing, the making up of a meaning behind the very objectively obvious image that could never be seen on a Magic Eye poster.
![Magic Eye/Rorschach series 4⁄5, 2021, 11”x8”x.75”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3628521cd3f9d9d41dcb56685890f8f5947911ab07095456a7d26b6524638555/38_e_smith.jpg)
![Magic Eye/Rorschach series 4⁄5, 2021, 11”x8”x.75”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/08af8802d1f63996028abe1f8bf6aacfccdb48b59480ce82b612119d433cd2fd/yellowmagicside2.jpg)
![Magic Eye/Rorschach series 4⁄5, 2021, 11”x8”x.75”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/684d782926f70df185efdd4cde688afb56e56658a066ffc416fac3993c14cb9b/yellowmagicdetail.jpg)
![Magic Eye/Rorschach series 3⁄5, 2021, 11”x8”x.75”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3d8d713b398173a394db7ad589ebcc9b890a34f7709538db1260a352a064d8de/39_e_smith.jpg)
![Magic Eye/Rorschach series 1⁄5, 2021, 11”x8”x.75”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/26fb0c0fec8b46696cd45d45d2a00aeb0bde5c38c94f57e5def1d1b6ee5a1535/4_e_smith.jpg)
![Magic Eye/Rorschach series 1⁄5, 2021, 11”x8”x.75”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3be64f3257c85c71cc7c76d84531ce404edb5f6fd5c1459371bd5ee9f7f68db7/3_e_smith.jpg)
![Magic Eye/Rorschach series 5⁄5, 2021, 11”x8”x.75”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cd998137c0478380103e0ca8246a9aa10c2f7d8c656d0bb83c602da4768c223d/40_e_smith.jpg)
![Magic Eye/Rorschach series 2⁄5, 2021, 11”x8”x.75”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/97a38f63694f3d342709a258c022f635b30ccf9339c6289925a1f17c3d03e363/36_e_smith.jpg)
![Magic Eye/Rorschach series 2⁄5, 2021, 11”x8”x.75”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bf43484278d58abd6de24ae8e8b009c3844f353e2787d10aa9604c2dacc3b7f7/bluemagic3.jpg)
![Magic Eye/Rorschach series 2⁄5, 2021, 11”x8”x.75”](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c8521d4440b86dff55c7e3de42b63dd81b044c98d58bf31b63246152908ae653/bluemagicside.jpg)