"Blind date" , by Erik Pevernagie, oil on canvas,(80 cm x 100cm)

Taking part in blind date meetings claims some mental detective work: is the partner looking to pursue a relationship or is he into playing the field, is he through a breakup or is he looking only for a fling.

Blind dating is not always a glorious enterprise and its path is often sown with many misunderstandings and disappointments. It is often a last straw. It can be experienced as a stage of embarrassing moments, sometimes decorated with thought bubbles like " Rather boring", "poor background", "be beautiful but keep quiet?" and communication language is often restricted to desperate small talk. Pythagoras would say then : "Silence is better than unmeaning words."

Psychologist Edward A. Dreyfus ( Someone Right for You) stresses " compatibility " as a key element for blind dating. "Often, friends or family will just fix up two people because they're both young and single, without really taking into account whether they're compatible " "In order to be successfully matched up on a blind date, you have to take steps that will ensure you're only going out with people who actually have potential."

A social experiment like "Married at First Sight” is extremer than blind date sessions. It follows singles yearning for a life-long partnership as they agree to a provocative proposal: getting legally married to a complete stranger the moment they first meet. A sexologist, a sociologist and a spiritual advisor create the perfect couples, based on scientific matchmaking. After several weeks together, each couple must make a decision: do they remain together or decide to divorce.

Phenomenon: Dating, relationship

Factual starting point: Person hiding face