Column“There is a road from the eye to heart that does not go through the intellect.” – G.K. Chesterton

Something happens when we look into one another’s eyes. We all experience it. Sometimes it’s a sense of connection, perhaps even aversion, but usually we recognize ourselves in someone else’s eyes. Rankin, famed photographer and founder of Dazed and Confused Magazine, has created a series of eye candy he calls Eyescapes. In it, we take a visual adventure through a series of macro photographs of irises.

Looking at the installation photos, the works up close might seem disconcerting. Even as they beckon, eyes this close can hold us at bay with their mechanical quality. Having said that, the images’ magnetism induce a trance-like effect.





Each “gaze” delivers a subtle message from its owner, and although imbued with its own unique character, the work lacks the context we associate with looking into someone’s eyes. As Rankin confronts us with the beauty of the iris, perhaps his success is in suggesting that we just see.

To learn a bit of his process, check this video extract from MTV / Swatch documentary about Rankin.



Eco, trends, art, creativity and how they tumble through social media to shape culture fascinate EcoSalon columnist Dominique Pacheco. Her personal blog, mixingreality, speaks to these topics daily, and here at EcoSalon, she takes a weekly look at the intersection of eco and art. We call it heARTbeat.