At first glance these wooden letters appear to be nothing more than a few blocks organized on a table to create a standard alphabet. However the letters are actually illusions of perspective, viewable only from the photographed angle, certain elements stacked high while others layered below are actually far in the background. Designed and photographed by Marc Böttler, see the full alphabet here.

Via and Via

Breaking the Boundaries

You can tell from the smile on this art lover's face that she isn't really in any danger from the pouncing lion that appears within striking distance of her.

And the fact that the lion is leaping from a red wardrobe, inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia, tells you something fantastical is occurring in the art world.

As 'realistic' as it may look, this incredible painting is simply part of a new exhibition of four dimensional art in North East China.

The collection of paintings, on display at a contemporary art exhibition in the Jilin province, uses techniques similar to the 'stand-up' advertising hoardings that are sometimes painted on the edges of sports pitches.

With cunning use of shadow they trick the eye into believing that the images are leaping off the canvas, that arrows are firing towards the viewers gaze from the bows of cherubs, or that Pinocchio's nose is protruding wildly from the frame.

The pieces are a huge hit with spectators who have already shown a talent for interacting with the works to become part of the art themselves.

These photographs show how creative fans have snapped themselves holding the end of Van Gogh's paintbrush, shouldering the train of a portrait's flowing dress and, in one clever sideways snap, skydiving from the safety of of the gallery floor.

VIA

Nakedness?!

VIA

I've shown this optical illusion to many people, but keep forgetting to post it here.

At first, it seems as if the brunette in the back is wearing no clothes at all! But on a second look, you realize that only her left arm is visible, while front girl’s arm gives us an illusion of nakedness.

Video-Mapping Way Cool!

I found these amazing examples of video-mapping, where video is projected onto surfaces. Well worth spending a few minutes watching.

To celebrate the 600-year anniversary of the Old Town Square astrological clock tower in the center of Prague, the city commissioned a video-mapping lightshow.

600 Years on the macula.

This is a recording of a wicked video projection show perfectly mapped to the front of a mansion in England. You've just got to see it to believe it. It's sort of long, but I recommend watching at least the first minute and then skipping around (there's even some Pac-Man action around 4:00).




ENVISION: Step into the sensory box. Under this name hides the immersive experiment offered by ALCATEL-LUCENT to its customers at the time of the last Mobile World Congress. An experiment containing video mapping conceived by agency SUPERBIEN and the department New Media of the Agency \ Audience. The public was invited to enter a cube and to discover an artistic vision of the tagline of the event: Transforming the mobile experiment.

Moving Static Images

From Gizmodo: The materials for YouTube Illusionist BrussPup's latest feat are simple: an iPad loaded with some images and a transparent sheet striped with black bars. But when the two are combined, those images come to life like you'd never expect. [YouTube]

Holiday Themed Illusions

I found these images on one of my frequent searches. Here's some great skull illusions that are only evident if you look at the image from far away, or if it's compressed into a smaller size. To make it easy, I've compressed them. I think they're pretty cool!

Day of the Dead

Wotherspoon - Gossip

Amour de Pierrot

Gilbert - Vanity

This image was later translated into a photograph that was used for the Def Leppard album cover:
Def Leppard - Retro Active

Philippe Halsman - Salvador Dali In Voluptate Mors

Interesting enough, the Dali photo above was used in the movie poster for Silence of the Lambs.

The photo itself was inspired by surrealist Dali’s gouache Female Bodies as a Skull painting. Dali later translated the same idea into his own live sculptures.

Dali - Female Bodies as a Skull

Escher in the Real World

I found these great "real world" variations on several of MC Escher's famous works.

Vertical Vistas

Originally posted at Dark Roasted Blend

Scrolling wheel workout for your computer mouse
+ visual feast for your eyes
Please wait for images to load

Yet another "computer specific" (or rather "monitor-specific") art-form is emerging on the net - images designed for viewing by scrolling down, and down, and down - to marvel at the VERTICALLY unfolding vistas. It also can be a bit disorienting... Have a look at these examples:

Art by Dinyctis, "Space Lane", Order prints here

The Dizzying Bridge

You may have seen this image circulating in emails around a year ago. This photograph is probably responsible for starting it all, and certainly works very well (especially if you keep scrolling up and down, creating the swinging effect)

Into the Forest

Tony Karp at Techno Impressionist Museum makes pictures that are too large for your browser window. They are often eclectic, but always seemless and intriguing. Here is an example, see more at his site.

Scrolling into outer space

Found on Pruned via BldgBlog, here is a stupendous scrolling across the Jupiter's landscape (a cylindrical projection, stitched from the photos taken by Cassini spacecraft):

(Image courtesy: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Some interesting HORIZONTAL scrolling can be found here
(found on the Finnish military forum)

Optical Illusions

"The House, that Swift Built"
(image credit: Anna Gunter)

So I came across this website, Dark Roasted Blend, and found numerous illusions posted - and many with links to the artists page. Here are a few I found interesting.

(image credit: Josh Sommers)

Another site of note is Planet Perplex

(image credit: Walter Wick)

Painting by Flemish artist Jos de Mey continue in the "old Belgian masters" traditional style, only they clearly show impossible landscapes.

(image credit: Istvan Orosz)

Here are some more examples of Felice Varini's line work (there are dozens more at his site)

Here is an example of "shadow sculptures" - see a superb page here

This drawing seems to be a (more or less) normal depiction of a shipwreck on an island, but if you put a cylindrical mirror in a certain place, you'll see Jules Verne portrait... (more of these here)

(image credit: Octavio Ocampo)

(image credit: Octavio Ocampo)

This is a screenshot from the movie "Alexander".
An interesting effect, but perhaps not that many people notice the hidden face.

Cher "Heart of Stone" album cover

(image credit: Sandro del Prete)