The Ishihara Test for disappeared images

The Ishihara test, a well-known color vision test, was created in 1917 by Shinobu Ishihara. I remember the first time I encountered this test in my childhood, finding numbers among the colorful dots was as enjoyable and fascinating as solving a quiz. However, for those unable to perceive certain colors, this quiz was not entirely enjoyable. It took a long time to realize that the inability of someone to see what I could was not just a physical limitation but a matter of perspective. The fact that the images emerging among numerous dots might not appear the same to everyone became an intriguing topic for me after I started creating images.

In just a few years, AI technology for generating images has advanced significantly. Anyone can quickly "manufacture" the desired image with just a few words, and despite ongoing copyright issues, it's possible to act as the creator of those images. At this point, when AI can easily and clearly implement any images we want, what does it mean to "create" an image? Perhaps future artists will focus more on contemplating images rather than just embodying them. This series began with such thoughts; it's more about contemplating the image itself and questioning how we view it.

The "Ishihara Test for disappeared images" series captures the process of discovering or remembering images that once existed, through the act of hiding or erasing images already present in the world. Like my childhood memories, it might be a quiz that is enjoyable for some or perhaps not entirely enjoyable for others.

May 2024

Andy Khun