Optical Illusurrealism

I love surrealism. A genre of intricacy, creativity and that wonderful floaty feeling when it seems like the laws of physics are breaking. Although it is sometimes a little creepy, I think it is important to approach surrealist art with the knowledge that it comes from a movement designed to challenge the way we look at the world. An appreciation of surrealism is, arguably, a natural conclusion of being a nineties kid raised on Magic Eye. (Ok maybe that's just me but...) 
This post is a very small eclectic tribute to optical illusions and surrealism, 
hence optical illusurrealism. 

M.C. Escher - the king of mathemaphysical weirdness. Art critics may say he is not a true surrealist, but he definitely deserves a mention here. If you like his work you need to download the game Monument Valley immediately. 

 

This next illusion plays on the subjectiveness of proximal colours. These 'green' and 'blue' spirals below are actually the same colour...

I know right!?

Wonderful Dali...what does your eye see first?

Stare at the cross and watch the absent dot change.
If you want to know why check out the phi phenomenon, after-image effects, Troxler's fading and complementary colours...or just enjoy it. 

Cats or birds?

Vladmimir Kush beautifully incorporates animals into his thought provoking work...

Inanimate circles spiral out of control...

This one infuriates cats...

And this post would obviously not be complete without Magic Eye!

(If you've not Magic Eyed before what you want to do is get really close to the image so that it is all blurry and you are looking through it, not focussing on it. Then ever so gradually move away from the screen. A secret image will appear in 3D. The trick is to not try to focus your eyes, but let it happen for you.)

I'm hoping there are some people with their noses pressed against their laptops in public places