Bethany Marett

Shortlisted

“PAREIDOLIA: GROUNDS/PEACOCK”
Hand tinted etching with aquatint
38 x 28 (cm)

Pareidolia is the psychological phenomenon wherein we see an image or familiar pattern, where none actually exists, such as seeing a face in the moon. I became very drawn to recording the beautiful and abstract patterns left in the bottom of a cup from used coffee grounds, and recognisable images often emerged. I began to manipulate the imagery, finding anchors of reference and exploiting these just enough for them to appear organically. Additionally, the practice of ‘reading’ coffee grounds is practised in some cultures, perhaps as part of a desire to make sense of something chaotic.