In this stage of the project, we focused on altering a single feature: the eyes. Using portraits of strangers sourced from the internet, we dissected and replaced only the eyes, creating subtle yet unsettling changes. The result is an exploration of how a small alteration can shift our perception of a face-something as familiar as a pair of eyes becomes unfamiliar, creating a sense of unease.

The eyes are often considered the most expressive and recognizable feature of a face, making these subtle changes particularly striking. By altering just this one element, we challenge the viewer’s instinct to recognize and connect with the subject. Though everything else about the portrait remains intact, the viewer is left with a distorted sense of identity-forcing them to question what has changed and why it feels so unfamiliar.

Through this process, we reflect on the malleability of identity in the digital age, where even the smallest alterations can dramatically change how we see both ourselves and others.