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December 28, 2006

Art and Illusion

Art is all about illusion, whether it’s the illusion of three dimensional space on a flat surface, the illusion of reality in a sculpture, or the illusion of an emotion in an abstract piece. Whichever way you look at it, art is illusion.

“Art is a lie that makes us realise the truth” said Picasso.

Artists are therefore illusionists or to put it another way: magicians. Make a mark on a surface and it’s SHOWTIME!

If a book drops unseen in a jungle can it be read? A picture not seen can be said not to exist. Pictures exist to be looked at, like cats [except Schrödinger’s, obviously].

So we pull on the spangly tights as we pick up the brushes and draw aside the curtain of our stage there miracles to perform. It’s not so much a case of LOOK AT ME! as: LOOK AT WHAT I’VE DONE!

If no-one sees your work, well what then? Does it exist?

Posted by john at December 28, 2006 04:44 PM

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