Raymond Cattell, the British American psychologist who proposed the concepts of fluid and crystallized intelligence, along with associate psychologist John L. Horn, suggested that human intelligence is a conglomeration of the two abilities that interact and cooperate to produce overall intelligence (ISAR). Crystallized intelligence, defined by elements such general knowledge, linguistic proficiency, every day learning and our knowledge about specific topics goes hand in hand with fluid intelligence, which involves pattern recognition, abstract thinking, and problem solving, for instance (Sternberg). Fluid intelligence is usually tested and ranked using the standardized tests we experience early on in our school careers. Horn suggests that although crystallized intelligence continues to increase and deepen as we age and learn new things, fluid intelligence is not so fluid, often times decreasing as we age (Cherry).

 

Fluid intelligence’s inverse trajectory inspired my choice to use scanner and printer distortion to produce free-flowing, liquid organic movement on found images of familiar standardized tests or other exercises that are commonly used to measure our fluid intelligence. By focusing on fluid intelligence as opposed to crystallized intelligence, I created a series of images that possess fluid qualities like a wet demeanor or lively organic distortion, literally applying fluidity to the tools used to measure this type of intelligence. By freely experimenting with representations of these tools, distorting them into non-threatening wiggles and wobbles, I hope to remind viewers that intelligence that is measured by daunting and sometimes stressful tests isn’t the only type of intelligence humans possess.