Carina Shoshtary
Point of Equilibrium
Only on closer inspection, the seemingly symmetrical pieces in this collection appear to be slightly imperfect. shThe bodies of most animals and people have a mirrored – so-called bilateral – symmetry, but they are never completely symmetrical. And though symmetry has always been considered beautiful, research has shown that the human brain instantly recognizes the perfection of symmetrical computer-generated faces as unnatural, and rejects it. Reassuringly, our instincts seem to appreciate (minor) imperfections as lifelike. In many ancient cultures, this acceptance and even need for imperfection is deeply embedded – according to Islam for instance, only Allah can make perfect things, so all man-made things must have a flaw. Hence moslim carpet-weavers usually include a deliberate mistake in their work.