This project explores the way that we take in information and understand the world around us. The idea of optical illusion became a strong source of inspiration as I was hugely interested as to how we can trick the mind into perceiving things differently to the way they were originally created.
This led me to create a small collection of pieces that can be viewed in different ways depending on orientation and distance from the piece. This exhibition displayed a large-scale 3D acrylic painting, 2 inverted face sculptures, 6 photography pieces and a clay sculpted face.
The painting was built on to a handmade mdf frame that angled the shapes slightly in order to allow the viewer to walk past the buildings as if they were really on the street. The style of the painting is realistic but still has clear brushstrokes and a large patch of clouded sky, to create a kind of dream-like feel.
The inverted masks idea began after learning about the way our brains are able to flip an image into something we find easier to comprehend. This is done when faces are concave; the brain flips the structure and inverts the perception of the light direction to appear as if the face is in fact convex. When this happens and the viewer walks past the structure, the shadows change and it seems as though the face is turning to follow you when it is in fact completely still. This creates a very strong sense of unease and confusion for the viewer and added to the "Wonderland" dream-like feel of the exhibition stand.
The interaction of the viewer with the work was very important to me as I feel that it invokes much stronger engagement with the piece and a more thoughtful response.
