Sculpting the Impossible: Solid Renditions of Visual Illusions
Share
Imelda's Dream Come True Imelda Marcos, widow of the former Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was infamous for her shoe collection, but also for quotes such as this: “People say I'm extravagant because I want to be surrounded by beauty...
"Lunch With a Helmet On" Shigeo Fukuda welded together 848 forks, knives and spoons to make “Lunch With a Helmet On.” In this case, Fukuda cleverly resolves the illusion by placing a light at the critical vantage point, making the motorcycle obvious only in the shadow cast by the utensil pile...
"Underground Piano" Depending on where you stand, you can see the mirror image of a pile of piano parts as a beautiful whole instrument, also by Shigeo Fukuda.
One-Man Band “Encore,” by Japanese artist Shigeo Fukuda, uses similar principles to represent a pianist and violinist in the same sculpture when viewed from two vantage points.
Advertisement
Ascending and Descending M. C. Escher’s “Ascending and Descending” Lego rendition by Lipson and Shiu.
If Escher Can Do It, Legos Can, Too M. C. Escher’s “Relativity” appears here as a 3-D representation made with Lego blocks (no trick photography… it’s all real), by Andrew Lipson and Daniel Shiu...
Impossible Triangle Revisited Another impossible triangle (now in Ophoven, Belgium), with a different resolution altogether. Again, the viewer’s location relative to the object is critical. Now you know why there are various physical ways to achieve any particular impossible object...
How to Make the Impossible Triangle These additional images show the component elements of McKay’s take on the illusion.
Advertisement
Impossible Triangle An industrial sized version of the “Impossible Triangle” in Perth, Australia, created by artist Brian McKay in collaboration with architect Ahmad Abas. How did they do that?...
Resolution to Schepker's "Crazy Crate" Another view of the “Crazy Crate” shows the method behind the madness. Notice that the illusion only works from a specific vantage point. At any other angle, the illusion fails...
"Crazy Crate" Hans Schepker has built outstanding sculptures of impossible objects, such as this “Crazy Crate.” Click to the next side to find out how he did it.
Homage to the Impossible Escher’s “Belvedere” showcases columns that switch walls between their bases and capitals, a straight ladder whose base rests inside the building yet nevertheless enters the building from the outside at its top, and a sitting man holding an impossible cube...
Advertisement
Impossible Figures The “Elusive Arch,” by Dejan Todorović of the University of Belgrade, Serbia, shows a new impossible figure. The left-hand portion of the figure appears as three shiny oval tubes...
Impossible Figures The impossible triangle (also called the Penrose Triangle or the “tribar”) was first created in 1934 by Oscar Reutersvärd. Penrose, the famous mathematical physicist, attended a lecture by the artist M...
