Photographer Aydın Büyüktaş‘s surreal images of Istanbul force one to adopt a new outlook on a world where the laws of the universe do not seem to apply. The Turkish artist explores the concepts of dimensionality and perspective with his series, Flatland. Büyüktaş’s warped representations of iconic Turkish landmarks offer a contemporary take on street photography.
Throughout his career, Büyüktaş has experimented with visual effects, 3D, and video, but, following a strong pull towards photography, has made that a primary focus. He has stated that his collection of altered panoramas draws inspiration from Edwin Abbott’s avant garde novel Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions. The satirical novel, set in a two-dimensional world occupied by geometric figures, examines how the perception of reality is limited by one’s outlook. Büyüktaş pushes at these limitations, testing our stance on how we see the world around us, by presenting photographs that are surreal yet familiar.
Flatland takes renowned landmarks—such as the Eminn Yeni Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and Sultanahmet Square–and modifies them, creating images that rise into the sky and fold back upon themselves. Captured via drone and then digitally edited with 3D software, the collection aims to flip our outlook on the world around us on its head.
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h/t: [Designboom]