Spatial illusions

1. SPATIAL ILLUSIONS
FROM PHENOMENAL TRANSPARENCY TO RHYTHMIC SPACE
&
LINEAR PERSPECTIVE TO ATMOSPHERIC PERSPECTIVE

2. THE PERFECT
IMPERFECTION
•It’s obvious that this painting, The Persistence
of Memory, by Man Ray shows not the reality
but rather imagination.
•But its perfect analogue, creates a sense of a
invulnerable analogical perfection which to
common sense defines the photograph.

3. Shallow Space
Rhythmic
Space
Deep
Space

4. SHALLOW SPACE
•The moment a image or art work starts to evolves from a two-
dimensional to three-dimensional, or starts to have shapes that
stacks on top of one another, the illusion of a space is created. A
shallow space is created, is used to describe a spatial illusion is
minimal or controlled to not open up very much.
•The two most common ways to create the illusions of shallow
space is to overlap and shading.
Overlapping
Shading

5. RHYTHMIC SPACE
•Rhythmic motions enhance spatial illusions in
relationship to our movements, thus giving a
“heart beat” to the space, creating a rhythmic
space.

6. DEEP SPACE
•Shading or definition makes matters look three-
dimensional but that limits them to occupying shallow
space.
•However, in order to create a illusion of deep space, one
needs perspective. Three terms are used to describe the
depth of a deep space are, foreground; middle ground;
background.

7. SHALLOW SPACE
Shading (Light and Shadow)
Overlap (Phenomenal Transparency)

8. OVERLAP (PHENOMENAL
TRANSPARENCY)
•Overlapping is where objects in an artwork or photo
appear to be on top of one another, and each seems
further from the observer than its previous.
•With the use of overlapping, there’s no way to tell
how deep the space is as the only thing you are able
to tell is which object is closer to you and which is
further.
•When overlapping is used alone wit flat shapes,
such as figures, ground and balanced projects, the
space will remain fairly flat.

9. • La Sarraz, the painter paints with a noticeable transparency in
his pigments in order to overlap the receding layers of planes.
What results is an organization of shapes that are obviously in
superimposition with one another in a vacuous expanse
suggesting outer space.
• In the painting nothing is left to imagination since the
transparency of the planes allows the viewers to see through
each layers
• Leger’s painting suggests a reordering of the various spatial
planes as each of the layers and section of the painting invades
and repel the neighboring spaces. In this way the viewer is
called upon to reconceive the painting in order to complete the
thought.
• While at the same time, no instruction is left for the audience so
the ambiguity of the painting is left completely to imaginations.

10. PHENOMENAL TRANSPARENCY
BY COLLIN ROWE

11. PHENOMENAL
TRANSPARENCY
Idea of layering
dissected layers
in sequences

12. PHENOMENAL TRANSPARENCY
•A situation in which an object or form allows light to pass through it. As
compare to a two-dimensional art, two forms overlaps, but remains in
their own world entirely.

13. PHENOMENAL
TRANSPARENCY
BY COLIN ROWE, ROBERT
SLUTZKY

17. The original concept of the “pre-intervention” inspiration model is visual obstruction. The cube features triangular and
Rectangular surfaces which limit visibility throughout the space, creating pockets of partial seclusion. The intervention
concept is to maintain the existing floor-plates, stairs and division of spaces yet produce the total opposite effect from
the original model, visual transparency as opposed to visual obstruction. This is achieved by altering materiality. The
study model use plastic and wood beams to experiments with concepts of literal and phenomenal transparency, yet they
maintain the original model’s character replicating it’s geometry and triangular forms.

18. GRADIENT PAINTED WALLS
AND PAINTING CAN ALSO GIVE
A SENSE OF DEPTH IN SPACES.

19. PATTERNS, TEXTURE AND
THICKNESS OF THE FLOOR CAN
BE USED TO SHAPE SPACE.

20. Rhythm is a concept of systematic repetition.
As human beings we are naturally engaged in
experiencing things that are done in a rhythm is
present in columns, windows, walls and other
elements of a buildings designed in such a way
that it transmit a repetition of the same
patterns or elements.

21. RHYTHM IS A GREAT FACTOR IN SPATIAL
ILLUSION, IT’S A CONSISTENT REPETITION
OF STRUCTURES AND OBJECTS.

22. Architecture Rhythm of columns, windows, walls
and others elements of a building designed in such
way that it transmit a repetition of the same
elements

23. The Theme Pavilion designed by SOMA
architecture is inspired by the living ocean and
coast.
Hotel Liesma Inspired by Music

25. LINEAR PERSPECTIVE
•Linear perspective is the perspective most are
familiar with. It’s based off the idea that an object
appears smaller as it gets farther away from the
observer. The ‘lines” in linear perspective are used to
diagram how much smaller the item would appear.
Linear perspective is based on the idea that all line will
converge on a common point on the horizon – the
vanishing point.
•Linear perspective is a system for drawing objects
that use lines and vanishing points to determine how
much an object’s apparent size changes with space.

26. • The vanishing point is at the center.
• The ceiling go down, the floor go up
and the wall/locker go towards the
center.
• Giving a sense of perspective view.

28. ROMAN DOMES
Natural light that enters lights up the painting of skies and heavens.
The ceiling with the perspective painting giving an illusion of an
open sky.

29. Anamorphic art (distorted
perspective which requires the
viewer to occupy a specific vantage
point) is as old as the renaissance.

30. Kurt Wenner, a former NASA space illustrator who studied classical art in
Italy, is something of a rock star in pavement art circles because he
invented 3D chalk art in the mid-1980s. Kurt’s work has graced countless
streets around the world.

31. The aten reign series is an “architecture of space created with light” where it draws attention
away from the built environment towards the interior. It is suppose to be experienced from
below, which when looked upwards made it look like a floating structure.
Daylight will enter from the opening shine down the layers ceiling of the museum. Therefore,
five elliptical rings with colored light will encircle the core daylight eye. The technical
infrastructure will be hidden from view so that our views are focused on the visual
perception and not the light technology as will as the constructive details. This installation
once again emphasize Turrell’s light perspective: “My art is about your seeing.”

32. Atmospheric Perspective
Residents of South California are all too aware that air
is not always clear and transparent. Atmospheric
perspective is based on the understanding of how air
acts as a filter to change the appearance of distance
objects.
Atmospheric Perspective deals with how the
appearance of an object is affected by looking at it
through a layer of air. Moisture, dust and pollutants in
the atmosphere act filter the visual information.
Colors also change with depth. All of the colors are
clear on near objects bright colors are only seen on
close objects. Warm colors also show up more on near
objects. As objects get farther away the colors grow
darker and colder.

33. “Atmospheric perspective” in the context of lighting, temperature, mood and time.

34. Atmospheric perspective
demonstrates the same thing using
only the air between the viewer and
the subject. An understanding of
atmospheric perspective can make
the difference between good
landscape painting and a great one.

35. Later painters still managed to
utilize atmospheric perspective
even as the techniques favoured by
realists like Julian onderdonk gave
way to more colorful but less
illusions space as in the painting on
the left.

36. FRANS KOPPELAAR, LANDSCAPE NEAR BOLOGNA, 2001; A
PAINTING DEPICTING AERIAL PERSPECTIVE: DISTANT
OBJECTS ARE LIGHTER, OF LOWER CONTRAST, AND BLUER
THAN NEARER OBJECTS.
•Dai Jin, "Landscape in the Style of Yan Wengui", Early Ming
Dynasty (1368-1644); a Chinese landscape painting using
"atmospheric perspective" to show recession in space.

37. The Chinese were the first to use/realise atmospheric perspective. Shown in Chinese painting
from the past were depths and layers of trees, fields, lakes, mountains and fogs.