I ART MY SCIENCE
Metamorphosis
Type
Mixed media photography
Year
2024 - 2025
Inspiration and composition
Metamorphosis  is the final piece in a three-step photographic series that explores transformation and identity through analogue and digital media. The first step involved capturing a self-portrait using a vintage Voigtländer 6x9 film camera. Szabó then developed the film by hand, embracing the meditative process of analogue photography, where every decision in the experimental planning—lighting, distance, and depth of field—required careful calculation. He draws a parallel between this meticulous process and scientific experimentation, highlighting the shared principles of precision, planning and discovery.
In the second step, Szabó utilized generative AI to modify the original image, introducing ethereal textures and light effects that symbolized dissolution and recreation. This stage introduced unpredictability, as Szabó relinquished control over the outcome, allowing the AI to transform the image into something mystical and evocative.
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The final piece, exhibited as  Metamorphosis, reconstructs the AI-generated image using handmade techniques. Szabó layered gauzy materials over a tablet screen, playing with light and shadow to evoke the image of smoke, before re-photographing the composition with a digital camera. This cyclical process—moving between analogue and digital methods—reflects the themes of transformation and regeneration central to this artwork.
Connection to 'Mysteries in Science'
Metamorphosis reflects the mysteries of transformation and identity, connecting the tangible processes of analogue photography with the intangible shifts brought about by AI and digital experimentation. The work mirrors scientific methodologies, where traditional practices merge with cutting-edge technologies to uncover hidden truths and prevalent mysteries.
Szabó’s piece also explores interconnectedness, drawing parallels between human evolution and the interplay of spiritual and material realms. By inviting viewers to consider the layers of creation behind the image, he bridges the gap between art and science, demonstrating how both fields illuminate the unseen processes that define existence.
Through Metamorphosis, Szabó challenges audiences to reflect on their own personal transformations and the shared mysteries of human and artistic experience.
About László Szabó
The Artist
Hungary