THE BEAUTIFUL EVOLUTION OF MIMICRY NOW

One of the most interesting things about evolution is the seemingly endless number of ways something can evolve and develop into something new.

Whether it’s an animal, a plant, an idea, a creation, or a universe, the best of the lot seizes upon a nuance, leverages random variation, and adapts to environment and circumstance to survive and thrive, where the less clever fail.

Fine art photographer Seb Janiak is fascinated with the concept of biomimicry as an evolutionary tool. It occurs when some organisms imitate others as a survival strategy.

The imitators undergo morphological and physiological changes, adopting traits of other species or visually blending in with their environments, in order to protect themselves from predators.

Janiak describes it as “a complex co-evolutionary mechanism involving three species: the model, the imitator and the dupe.”

Janiak borrows the idea to create his ongoing series, entitled Mimesis, in which he makes insects mimic flowers. And we, the viewers, are the “dupes.”

He begins by taking super-high resolution photos of insect wings which he finds during his hunts through antique and taxidermy shops. He digitally pieces the images together, fashioning the wings as petals, in mimicry, to form fantastical blossoms.

Other than building his analog image layers, using superimposition and photomontage, there are no other special effects used.

Janiak then creates giant chromogenic prints, each almost 6 sq. ft.

The entire Mimesis series, which includes 22 pieces, to date, recently made its debut exhibition at the Photo Shanghai art fair. The series also recently won an IPA Lucy Award.

Based in Paris, Janiak has been working as a photographer for over 25 years.

Read more about Beautiful Evolution as it relates to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Seb Janiak. Mimesis - Precognitus Christium.
2. Image: by Seb Janiak. Mimesis Vaporumpsd.
3. Image: by Seb Janiak. Mimesis – Aphyllae Maleakht.
4. Image: by Seb Janiak. Mimesis - Lubhyati Solitudinis.
5. Image: by Seb Janiak. Mimesis - Lubon Tranquillitatis.
6. Image: by Seb Janiak. Mimesis - Lacus Luxuriae.
7. Image: by Seb Janiak. Mimesis - Fecunditatis.
8. Image: by Seb Janiak. Mimesis – Hibiscus Trinium.
9. Image: by Seb Janiak. Mimesis - Ornithogale Venusiaïs.
10. Image: by Seb Janiak. Mimesis - Turritopsis Neptunus.
11. Image: by Seb Janiak. Mimesis – Tradescantia Ganymedia.
12. Image: by BN App - Download now!
13. Image: by Seb Janiak. Mimesis - Nubium.