Stick Figure, 2011 from the series Kallima by Alex Kisilevich
Named after Kallima inachus, the Dead Leaf butterfly, Contender Alex Kisilevich explores camouflage in this series of photographs from his project Kallima. This butterfly gets its name from its camouflage, which makes it appear to be a dried, dead leaf when the species folds its wings together. In Kallima, Kisilevich's use of camouflage and mimicry calls attention to the often unnecessary, but still aesthetically pleasing, nature of this evolutionary trait. Additionally, Kisilevich captures otherwise mundane depictions of that which tricks the eye in his images of the seamless lines in wood paneling joints and the colorful patterns of wall coverings.
Cabinet, 2010 from the series Kallima by Alex Kisilevich
Of the series, Alex writes:
When drawing its wings together, the Kallima butterfly bears an uncanny resemblance to a dried leaf. Originally thought to be a defense tactic, it has also been suggested that this form of camouflage has been an "exaggeration of precautions" and [is] completely unnecessary. What motivates such an evolutionary development if not self-preservation? Perhaps it is a kind of sympathetic sentience, a way to connect with and find meaning in the external world, or is it perhaps the result of a gradual loss of self-identity over time, or a sense of bewilderment in relation to one's surroundings? Kallima explores notions of camouflage within contemporary and social contexts by investigating various theories surrounding the concept of mimesis and human subjectivity, as well as mimicry in the natural world and the ways in which it can be mirrored in human behaviour. The images, full of pathos and absurdity, allude to ideas of illusion and transparency, masking and disguise, assimilation and adaptation, as well as the ways we construct connections between ourselves and others.
Sasquatch, 2011 from the series Kallima by Alex Kisilevich
Alex Kisilevich is a photo-based artist living and working in Toronto. Having recently graduated from an MFA in Visual Arts program at York University, Kisilevich's work has been exhibited in Toronto and published in the Magenta Foundation's Flash Forward 2010. For more photographs from the Kallima series, visit the artist's site.
Mop, 2010 from the series Kallima by Alex Kisilevich