Art as Visual Research: 12 Examples of Kinetic Illusions in Op Art

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Scientists did not invent the vast majority of visual illusions. Rather, they are the work of visual artists, who have used their insights into the workings of the visual system to create visual illusions in their pieces of art. We have previously pointed out in our essays that, long before visual science existed as a formal discipline, artists had devised techniques to "trick" the brain into thinking that a flat canvas was three-dimensional, or that a series of brushstrokes in a still life was in fact a bowl of luscious fruit. Thus the visual arts have sometimes preceded the visual sciences in the discovery of fundamental vision principles, through the application of methodical—although perhaps more intuitive—research techniques. In this sense, art, illusions and visual science have always been implicitly linked.

It was only with the birth of the op art (for "optic art") movement that visual illusions became a recognized art form. The movement arose simultaneously in Europe and the U.S. in the 1960s, and in 1964 Time magazine coined the term "op art." This style became hugely popular after the Museum of Modern Art in 1965 held an exhibition called "The Responsive Eye." In it, op artists explored many aspects of visual perception, such as the relations between geometrical shapes, variations on "impossible" figures that could not occur in reality, and illusions concerning brightness, color and shape perception. But "kinetic," or motion, illusions drew particular interest. In these eye trick, stationary patterns give rise to the powerful but subjective perception of (illusory) motion.

The accompanying slides illustrate several works of art in which objects that are perfectly still appear to move. Moreover, they demonstrate that research in the visual arts can result in important findings about the visual system. Victor Vasarely, the founder of the op art movement, once said, "In basic research, intellectual rigor and sentimental freedom necessarily alternate". Some of the illusions in this month's slide show have been created by op artists; some by vision scientists honoring the op art tradition. But all of them make it obvious that in op art, the link between art and illusory perception is an artistic style in and of itself.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=art-as-visual-research

[Niels Bohr 72]

Lies. Those are animated gifs files!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Lies. Those are animated gifs files!

I promise you...they are NOT.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Lies. Those are animated gifs files!

I promise you...they are NOT.

I was just kidding. I was trying not to believe artisan can trick people. I failed.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Lies. Those are animated gifs files!

I promise you...they are NOT.

I was just kidding. I was trying not to believe artisan can trick people. I failed.

hehehe...sorry.

[Ban Hammer 13,364]

Lies. Those are animated gifs files!

I promise you...they are NOT.

I was just kidding. I was trying not to believe artisan can trick people. I failed.

hehehe...sorry.

a simple properties on them reveals they are jpg.

[rocks 494]

every time i scroll by this one in your sig i feel like my eyes are going to pop out.

[MissStacey 1]

I like the ones that you stare at then an image pops out.

[jundp 191]

My brain doesn't work that way. I just see a mess.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I like the ones that you stare at then an image pops out.

You mean this?

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/inkblot

[MissStacey 1]

I like the ones that you stare at then an image pops out.

You mean this?

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/inkblot

Nope.

[MissStacey 1]

Like this: You stare at it and it becomes 3D. It looks like a bird to me.

[Scott & Lai 12]

Like this: You stare at it and it becomes 3D. It looks like a bird to me.

These never work for me...

[Imua 0]

Like this: You stare at it and it becomes 3D. It looks like a bird to me.

These never work for me...

Neither for me, but in my case I think it's because I only see with one eye.