Deformations in abstraction in the METAMORPHOPSIA series of paintings by Vidal Toreyo. What does the expression metamorphopsia mean? What is the explanation for the painter naming his series of works this way? Metamorphopsia is a general term for various visual perception disorders. These changes arise as a result of disorders of the central nervous system. This system is involved in the transmission, modality and analysis of visual stimuli. Perceived Objects can be perceived as changed.
Vidal Toreyo’s paintings go beyond simple mechanical deformation. This is deformation in abstraction. Vidal Toreyo invites the viewer to an intellectual and optical game. Looking at his paintings is a game with your brain. The image is real, but its associations result from presumptions or guesses. The viewer’s brain looks for associations, evaluates the drawing, colors and tones. The mental image changes and adapts to the image, associations and memories. And each viewer deforms what they see in front of them, into their own image, creates their own metamorphopsia in their mind.
What distortions does Vidal refer to? The artist creates optical puzzles. He sets a task for the viewer. He requires them to find and imagine the subject themselves. That is why the name of this series does not suggest what inspired the creator. The viewer has complete freedom to interpret the effects of the painter’s work. Every association is good. The artist wants his paintings to develop the imagination of the viewers.
What deformations does he use? Firstly, the perceived objects are somewhere else than they are. Secondly, the perceived world can be brighter, more expressive. Thirdly, the distances between objects can change. Fourthly, the objects themselves can be deformed. Characteristic deformations in abstraction for metamorphopsia – the object is still recognizable, although it seems to have different properties than the real one. That it is not itself.
