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

Happy Fingers

Finger + pen = effortless entertainment.



 Perfect for keeping you awake in those slow meetings or lectures. 









Source: AnOther

Dreamscaping

Dreamscaping is the art of JeeYoung Lee, a South Korean artist who spends weeks, or even months, transforming her 3m x 6m studio into whatever land her imagination dictates...

Sweet Appetite

Treasure Hunting

JeeYoung stars in each landscape, often becoming one of the creatures she creates. 

Birthday

Resurrection 

Whilst some of her work is enchanting and delicate, sometimes it is jarring and vivid. 

Blackbirds

Food Chain

Flu

In 'Panic Room' she plays with perspective to create surrealism. 

Panic Room

I am totally enamoured with her. Every dreamscape she creates is magical and it shows what you can create with such a small space.

Gamer

I'll Be Back

If you want to see more of her work, you can see the full exhibition on-line, or head down to the OPIOM gallery (Opio, France) this time next where her work will be going on display for a month. 

Pointless Excellence

Sometimes it's nice to spend a little time on something without too much real world significance. Here are some of my favourite, very pointless, very excellent ways to 

spend half an hour. 

Scribbler Too

Scribbler Too allows creates interconnecting lines 

between your doodles, to create beautiful web-like art. 

Find The Invisible Cow

Use your ears to locate the invisible cow. Simple.

Picasso Head

Make abstract Picasso-esque portraits.

Meditation Flowers

Sing to your flowers and see what happens.

Enjoy!

Hand Art: A Canvas At Your Fingertips

Guide Danielle ditches the more conventional canvases, favouring human hands. His work has me yearning to fingerpaint. 




  



Pretty breathtaking huh?
Via Pikchur

Thread Installations by Gabriel Dawe

These incredible installations are the work of Gabriel Dawe who 

simply uses coloured thread to play with light and create these enticing prisms.

  Somehow I think this wouldn't work so well if I tried it at home,  but I'm tempted to try...

Via Colossal

Non-Conformism