The Part and the Whole comes from “Gestalt Psychology” which was founded by Max Wertheimer, Kurt Kofka, and Wolfgang Kohler. My introduction to the idea came from the book “Art and Visual Perception” by Rudolph Arnheim. Though not a direct response to these theories, the book introduced me to visual perception and influenced my photographic works from there on out. The work began as a collection of found objects and continues to revolve around them as the centerpiece to my work and writing. For a larger view into these ideas please take a look at my website Middlepiece.
Max Wertheimer
Max Werheimer was an Austro-Hungarian-born psychologist who is best known for his involvement in Gestalt Psychology, the Phi Phenomenon, and his most well received book titled Productive Thinking.
Rudolph Arnheim
Rudolf Arnheim was a German-born author, art and film theorist, and perceptual psychologist. He learned Gestalt psychology from studying under Max Wertheimer and Wolfgang Köhler at the University of Berlin and applied it to art.