An App About Metaphorical Associative Cards

My visual research and diploma project encompass relevant, controversial, and thought-provoking topics. First and foremost, I address the connection between modern psychology and esotericism, more specifically, the individual's pursuit of self-knowledge and the diverse tools available for this process. People have been exploring the depths of their consciousness for centuries, and the ancient practices and works that have facilitated this cannot be ignored. Since my professional activity is connected to art, I will be researching visual means of self-analysis. For example, the Chinese Book of Wisdom "I Ching", the ancient Indian transformational game "Leela", Scandinavian Runes, playing cards, Tarot decks, and the Oracle. All these unique creations from different eras and cultures are aimed at a deep understanding of one's Self. To comprehend how human perception functions when viewing an image, symbol, or sign, it is necessary to study literature on psychoanalysis, mythology, semiotics, and even neurobiology. Why do we grasp some images instantaneously while paying no attention to others? How can we successfully establish communication through visual language? I seek answers to these and other questions in my research work. The primary subject of my analysis is how communication with the inner and outer worlds is constructed using sign systems. The aim of the work is to study religious and mythological images in the context of the significance of symbolism in an individual's everyday life and to identify similar motifs among the visual means of self-analysis in ancient cultures. Similar motifs in self-reflection methods of different cultures can be found in various art forms — from cave paintings to modern graffiti. These images and symbols may have specific meanings depending on the culture and historical context, but they may still reflect some common human experiences and emotions. From time immemorial, our ancestors have used various tools to find answers to eternal questions. Divination tools such as playing cards, Tarot decks, or the Oracle are based on archetypal images embedded in the collective unconscious, a hidden layer of the psyche that everyone has access to. According to the well-known psychologist and psychiatrist C.G. Jung, there are countless symbolic images, but some of them can be singled out as the most significant. I frequently refered to the system of archetypes while analyzing ancient methods of introspection and creating my own visual language for metaphorical cards in a mobile application. A mobile application with generative images acts as an advisor in any situation when a person is looking for an answer. The associations that arise during the analysis of the card are exclusively individual for each observer. The user immerses themselves and finds answers within their inner world, their subconscious mind.