Impossible Objects - The Concept Impossible Object, also known as an 'Impossible Figure' or an 'Undecidable Figure,' is a two-dimensional drawing that creates an illusion of an 'actually non-existent' three-dimensional figure.
While in most cases, the impossibility becomes apparent on viewing the figure for a few seconds, However, the geometry of complex Impossible Objects has to be carefully examined to realize their illusionary effect.
The concept holds special relevance in the fields of psychology, mathematics, and art.
The Artists & the Artworks Oscar Reutersvard (Sweden, 1915-2002) is known as 'the father of impossible figures,' for designing the first Impossible Object, an impossible triangle out of a series of cubes, in 1934.
He created more than 2500 impossible figures in his career as an artist.
However, this concept was first published in the British Journal of Psychology by father-son duo Lionel Penrose (Britain, 1898-1972) and Roger Penrose (Britain, 1931).
The article was titled Impossible Objects: A Special Type of Visual Illusion (1956), and employed the illustrations of Penrose Triangle and Penrose Stairs.
The art gained popularity among masses with the work of M.
C.
Escher (Netherlands, 1898-1973).
His first true Impossible Object drawing was 'Cube with Magic Ribbons' (1957).
Belvedere (1958), Ascending and Descending (1960), and Relativity (1953) are his other famous artworks.
Sandro del Prete (Switzerland, 1937) added a new perspective to the illusory effects by using light and shadow to create an Impossible Object.
He called the process of optical delusions in his drawings as 'Illusorism.
' Istvan Orosz (Hungary, 1951) used illusionist approach to printing techniques, such as woodcutting and etching.
Joes de Mey (Belgium, 1928-2007) used Escher's ideas to depict impossible structures in his paintings.
His paintings created an illusion by projecting three-dimensional objects such that front, back, top, bottom, right, and left could not be clearly demarcated.
Guido Moretti (Italy, 1947), Tamas F.
Farkas (Hungary, 1951), Shigeo Fakuda (Japan, 1932-2009) and Mathieu Hamaekers (Belgium, 1954) are few other contemporary artists in this genre.
The Ubiquity Although Impossible Object cannot exist in the real world, the world of fiction is full of such figures.
Science fiction based movies and television serials make heavy use of such impossible figures to depict space stations, aliens, tinsel towns, castles, etc.
Few of the umpteen examples in this genre are from Castrovalva (Doctor Who), The Next Generation (Star Trek), 1963, Treehouse of Horror VIII (The Simpsons), Pokemon Platinum, and Labyrinth, No Meals on Wheels (Family Guy).
Computer and video games also have enormous use of Impossible Objects.
Few examples are Diablo II, Echochrome, Realm of Possibility, and Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem.
Conclusion Due to their association with geometry and visual system, Impossible Objects are of equal interest to mathematicians and cognitive psychologist across the world.
The contemporary artists are experimenting with this art, as it still allures masses through its strong presence in the fascinating world of science fiction.