Julius von Bismarck Fire with Fire (Video Test), 2020

For his video Fire with Fire, Julius von Bismarck collaborated with various fire fighting forces, to be allowed admittance to the restricted areas, and seizure the aesthetic apocalypse of blustering flames. Using slow motion and image mirroring as a technique to enhance the hypnotic effect of fire, von Bismarck’s Fire with Fire images differ greatly from the brutal reality depicted.

The illusions created the decelerated images in vertical symmetry are reminiscent of the ‘inkblot pictures’ by Swiss psychoanalyst Hermann Rorschach, originally introduced as a projective psychological tool. Indeed, the symmetric patterns induce subconscious observations: new figures gradually emerge from the flames: some viewers see mythical creatures, others see fiery spirits or forest demons.