Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Did you know that wing coloration is an important component of social signaling in butterflies?  In some Asian countries such as China and in Japan, dragonfly enthusiasts, much like birders elsewhere, pride themselves on recognizing many different types of this species of insect. In fact, numerous  festivals, and sanctuaries provide Japanese dragonfly enthusiasts with the opportunity to practice and perfect their skills.  It is striking that many visual signals such as symmetry,  used for communication by insects and animals, are judged to be attractive by humans.  With such universal appeal it is no surprise that Ryan McGinley's film contributes to the notion that biological evolution as well as artistic innovation has allowed us to develop a sensory bias towards the beautiful.

Ryan McGinley’s Beautiful Rebels on Nowness.com.