Insect Wings Made to Look Like Blooming Flowers Explores Natural Concept of Mimicry

Though their components are natural, these are not photos of unusually beautiful flowers. This collection is fine art photographer Seb Janiak’s latest project, in which he has manipulated photographs of insect wings to look like blooming flowers. The series, entitled Mimesis, was created without digital manipulation. Using no special effects, the artist utilized analog photography in combination with superimposition and photomontage to create the layered and hypnotic insect flowers.

Paris-based Janiak has explored a remarkably diverse range of subject matter and techniques within the photographic medium throughout his 25-year career. His works aim to maintain the integrity of the medium, while embracing the possibilities that come with technological innovation. Mimesis, Greek for imitation, explores the concept of mimicry that is seen in the natural world; this is a strategy that involves species undergoing morphological and physiological changes as a means of survival. Mimicry is a situation where one species (the mimic) adopts traits of another (the model) as protection from predation. The mechanism is random and subject to natural selection, it is not a conscious or rational effort of the species but an adaptive, evolutionary tool to survive by tricking your predators.

Janiak’s works are always thought-provoking, with larger than life subject matter and concept range.

Above: Mimesis - Precognitus Christium, 2014
Chromogenic print
Format 180 x 180 cm (70,9 x 70,9 in)

Mimesis - Fecunditatis, 2014
Chromogenic print
Format 180 x 180 cm (70,9 x 70,9 in)

Mimesis - Iridis ishtarae, 2012
Chromogenic print
Format 180 x 180 cm (70,9 x 70,9 in)

Mimesis - Lacus Luxuriae, 2014
Chromogenic print
Format 180 x 180 cm (70,9 x 70,9 in)

Mimesis - Lubhyati Solitudinis, 2014
Chromogenic print
Format 180 x 180 cm (70,9 x 70,9 in)

Mimesis - Lubon Tranquillitatis, 2014
Chromogenic print
Format 180 x 180 cm (70,9 x 70,9 in)

Mimesis - Precognitus Christium, 2014
Chromogenic print
Format 180 x 180 cm (70,9 x 70,9 in)

Mimesis - Ornithogale Venusiaïs, 2012
Chromogenic print
Format 180 x 180 cm (70,9 x 70,9 in)

Mimesis - Turritopsis Neptunus, 2012
Chromogenic print
Format 180 x 180 cm (70,9 x 70,9 in)