Artist - Song

Pareidolia


	Pareidolia? Don't worry, I didnt know that word either, until quite recently. The dictionary describes it as "the tendency to impose a meaningful interpretation on a nebulous stimulous, usually visual, so that one detects an object, pattern, or meaning where there is none." For example, "seeing faces" in inanimate objects ... which perfectly describes an affliction I've had for most of my adult life: I see faces ... EVERYWHERE! Maybe you do, too?



	In June 2025 an interesting article appeared in the Smithsonian Magazine: "Did a Neanderthal Who Lived 43,000 Years Ago Paint a Red Nose on a Rock That Looked Like a Face?" Authored by Sarah Kuta, the article was accompanied by a photograph of a small rock (approximately 8" x 4") with vaguely face-like features. The researchers wrote: “The fact that the pebble was selected because of its appearance and then marked with ocher shows that there was a human mind capable of symbolizing, imagining, idealizing and projecting his or her thoughts on an object". If I may add to this, I'm convinced this particular Neanderthal also had a sense of humour!


	A number of years ago I started taking photographs -- or scanning images -- whenever I thought I saw a "face". Some of the examples below are better than others, but here's a selection of "face-like" images I've collected ...



	Air vents, Dishoom Restaurant Kensington, London		Part of a childrens shoe measuring device, London		Toilet, Mercer Hotel Barcelona



	???		???		Toaster



	Cabinet (scan)		Kitchen drawer, inverted Naples Florida		Broken cookie



	Sidewalk, New York		Manhole cover, New York		Wall vents, New York



	Swiss cheese		Bread		Pickle, sliced



	Toilet, London		Shower head		Lamp bracket, wall mount



	Take-out coffee lid		Take-out coffee lid		Wine bottle seal?



	Take-out coffee lid, Toronto (some days this is how I feel)		Picture frame hook		Cardboard packaging material



	Traffic barrier New York		Traffic barrier New Jersey		Old door with plate removed



	Picture frame hook		Elevator, Millburn NJ		Elevator, Naples FL



	Antique brass door latch, part 1		Antique brass door latch, part 2



	Not sure what this is. It's next to the Target store, Maplewood NJ		Thule bicycle seat London, UK		Thule bicycle seat London, UK



			Airplane ceiling air vents		Electrical switch London, UK



			Miele vaccum, carpet attachment		Remington hair clipper



	Microwave rotor		Electrical adaptor		Bottom of trash bin, London



	Vileda mop strainer		Airplane lavatory, hot-cold faucet		Wall-mount tool-holder



	Mop, Brooklyn NY		Online screen capture		Bollard, Martha's Vineyard



	Vileda Ultamax mop part		Henkel pasta ladle		Vileda Ultamax mop part



			Toaster interior		Sidewalk stain, New York



	Audi key fob



	Air fryer, screen capture		Winter boot clasps		Purse, screen capture



	Shopping cart, Home Depot Maplewood NJ		Old brass door plate



	Floor access panel New York subway car		Luggage rack bracket New Jersey Transit train		Restaurant, Brooklyn NY



	Wire-cutter tool		Cupboard Le Colombier Restaurant London UK		Hotel lobby, lights and chimney



	St. Yeghiche Armenian Church London UK		Door latch, washing machine London UK		Old barn, Lougheed Highway Mission, BC, Canada



	Security camera Online screen capture		Össur backpack London UK		Sidewalk, Cromwell Road London UK



	Some kind of portable barrier? Heathrow Airport		Elevator Heathrow Airport		Concrete roadside barrier Mission, BC, Canada



	Gate latch, London		Door pull		Oven knobs, New York



	Swiss cheese slices		???		UAD Pultec audio plug-in



	Irrigation cover Las Vegas		Front Desk decoration Hotel, Las Vegas		Cupboard



	United Airlines galley latches		Las Vegas airport		Latch (screen capture)



	New York subway



	???		Landscape drain		Heavy duty jack, base



	Stairs, New York subway		???		Water spout, New York



	X-ray panel, New York		Coat - gromets and zipper		Outdoor propane heater, base



	Toilet button		New York Street		Tub drain lever



	???		Weight for a tent pole		New York Street



	Cardboard on the street		New Jersey Transit		Detail of a dermatology device



	NJ Transit train?		NJ Transit train?		Air vents Barcelona airport



	When I was in London a friend sent me this image from New York		The very next day, while walking in London, I saw this brick-size item in Trevor Street near Harrods!		Sidewalk, Battersea Power Station London



			Hotel wall, Barcelona



			Vent, London



	I saw this woman walking on Broadway in New York. When I got home I searched for images of the purse online



	Wall plate		Wall plate		Wall plate



	Wall vent, London		Sliced strawberry		???



	Picture hook		???		???



	???		???		Door latch part



	I forget where I photographed this		I forget where I photographed this		London bus



	Chair, Pret a Manger, New York		Sidewalk, New York?		Pattern on sweat pants New York



	Coal cover, cast iron and glass London		Ceiling sprinkler, doctor's office New York		Antique guitar, MET Museum New York



	Shop wall, Madison Avenue New York		Cupboard (inverted) New York City bus		Electric car charging station



	New York city bus?	Andis hair trimmer	Trash and recycling bin Post Office, Manhattan NY



	Televison outlet, Phoenix AZ		I forget where I photographed this		Phoenix AZ



	Fire hydrant, Los Angeles		I forget where I photographed this		Street, Los Angeles



	Infant's bicycle seat (inverted)		I forget where I photographed this		Expensive car detail, London