Membrane, Integument, Boundary: Im (material) and Topological Aspects of Image
This paper explores the issue of material aspects of image. The inquiry takes into account the new materialism’s perspective which implies rethinking the concept of matter: to abandon traditional understanding of the material as a passive subject of the active form, which only receives different effects and never produces any. The material turn has an impact on visual and image studies. The relationships between image and its material support has always seemed complicated and problematic. This paper explores the traditionally marked gap between image and its material carrier as well as a physical space filled with material bodies. The examination is based on the main concepts of projective geometry. The projective geometry’s framework is fairly relevant here due to its deep connection with the visual and art. The gap is articulated and described on this geometry basis, at the same time, the attempts are made to rethink and eliminate it. In order to do so, the paper provides several examples of blurring the boundary between image and its material surrounding that become possible due to new materialism’s shift which redefines matter and provides it with agency. Furthermore, the idea of the image itself as a boundary is also considered. As such a border the image separates inner and outer, res cogitans and res extensa, immanent and transcendent. Topological and geometric examination shows that this dividing surface that is the image is non-oriented which means it has only one side.