The first piece I chose was a photograph taken by photographer Hughes Léglise-Bataille called “A stroll in Paris”. The reason this image interest me is because of the illusion of the face. I find pieces like this interesting due to how certain angles and the placing of objects can create a whole new dimension within the image. Photography is a pathway I am considering so I felt this piece would be good for me to talk about to express my interest in the topic. The other image I have chosen is Salvador Dali’s “Mae West” which is also a face created from illusion.

These pieces share a common ground, in this case it is perception. For me perception is very important, it draws you in closer to the work and builds that relationship with you and the artist. It also allows the onlooker to decide what they see in the image, they may see something completely different to what someone else sees.

One difference between the two is of course the technique. Whilst Mae West is a sculpture (then painting) purposely created to create the illusion, “A Stroll in Paris” is a photo, which based on the surrounding environment, has by chance created an illusion. With these illusions also comes the rarity of them, if you were to move the camera or paint from a different angle, the illusion may shift or vanish completely. That’s why these moments either caught on camera or paint are so intriguing as they are so mysterious and rare.

References

• Salvador Dali – Mae West (1937) JPEG digital image. Illusion.scene360.com [Online]
• Hughes Léglise-Bataille – “A Stroll in Paris”  (2006) JPEG digital image. www.flickr.com