FORMAL TRANSFORMATIONS

The exposition continues with the investigation of another type of pattern emerging upon completion of the process which the Surrealists referred to as "décalcomanie".
'The operation known to the Surrealists as "décalcomanie" is repeated. Here a form or splash of ink is deposited in the middle of a sheet which is then folded once or twice, pressed and then opened out to reveal the practically symmetrical form which has been produced by a hazard beyond control. As with all of the latter operations the interest of these results is not guaranteed. The general purpose of the exercise is to expose the participants to a very wide range of possibilities one or more of which may excite their curiosity and lead to a concrete result. In all cases however it has been found to exhibit a far wider field of operations than that already known.'
This has certain affinities with the Rorschach test which uses the same method - an inkspot flattened between two boards or simply folded creating an irregular symmetrical shape and asking the person (the patient) to invent stories about its meaning - as many as possible . In the case of an artist this would consist in eliciting further actions either representative or abstract: leading to further work which can be developed.

Fig.181. Ink form placed in the middle of a sheet of paper, folded, pressed and opened, untransformed by further operations of the artist.

Fig.182. Ink form placed in the middle of a sheet of paper, folded, pressed and opened, transformed by the artist in a figurative direction, arises as a moth.

Fig.183. Ink form placed in the middle of a sheet of paper, folded, pressed and opened, transformed by the artist, emerges as an abstract pattern having many suggestive significances.
So the ink spot has again both figurative and abstract possibilities through the artist's transformations - becoming a centre of fascination.

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