Artwork Depicting 3D Illusions & Multi-Dimensional Reality

[JGeropoulas]

I just discovered some intriguing artwork by Rob Consalves in the book “Masters of Deception: Escher, Dali & the Artists of Optical Illusion”. I hadn’t thought of Escher and Dali since college, so it was interesting to re-view their work in view of all I’ve learned about the nature of our reality.

On a side note, it’s interesting how our higher mind guides us even when we’re deep asleep. Back in high school, when I discovered the world of mail-order books, “for some reason” I was drawn to a generously-illustrated edition of “Man And His Symbols” by Carl Jung. I had only the vaguest idea what he was talking about, but was completely intrigued by symbols used by our “collective unconscious” (divine cosmic?) mind.

A few years later, in my first year of architecture school, I splurged to buy two books that “captured” me in the university bookstore: one of Salvador Dali’s surrealistic paintings, and one of M.C. Escher’s optical illusion woodcuts. These are examples of situations we’ve all had, where you can’t explain why you like something, but a deep resonance draws you.

To me, Consalves’ artwork reflects a convergence of the unfettered imagination of Dali and the graphic precision of Escher. By confounding our 3D logical minds, his images seem able to resonate with higher truths about our 3D illusions and our multi-dimensional existence.

Here’s some links to my favorite examples of his work. Have fun.

This is the first painting I saw. It’s an excellent depiction of our hyper-dimensional puppetmasters tricking those who "don't see" into holding their own puppet strings. Note the young boy who’s seeing the reality of the puppet show, yet being pressed to grab the kite-string and join all the others who’ve been taught to “go fly a kite”!
http://www.discoverygalleries.com/images/Gonsalves_PullingStrings.jpg

My favorite depiction of how we build and maintain our illusions
http://www.discoverygalleries.com/images/Gonsalves_MosaicMoat.jpg

Gives new meaning to "supporting capitalism"
http://www.discoverygalleries.com/images/AcrobaticEngineering.jpg

I jokingly call this one, “Laura Conducts Her First Research Project”
http://www.discoverygalleries.com/images/RGonsalves_NewMoonEclipsed.jpg

...and this one, "Laura's Library" :)
http://www.discoverygalleries.com/images/gonsalves17.jpg

The heads of the community
http://www.discoverygalleries.com/images/CommunityPortrait.jpg

http://www.discoverygalleries.com/images/gonsalves24.jpg

http://www.discoverygalleries.com/images/gonsalves6.jpg

Hard to see the forest for all the "trees"
http://www.discoverygalleries.com/images/gonsalves11.jpg

http://www.discoverygalleries.com/images/Gonsalves2_orig.jpg

Entitled, "Cathedral of Commerce" by the artist
http://www.discoverygalleries.com/images/Gonsalves_Untitled2.jpg

Brings to mind the words, "dead" and "rubish" to me
http://www.discoverygalleries.com/images/gonsalves8.jpg

and many more here:
http://www.discoverygalleries.com/ArtistGallery.asp?artist_id=23&category_id=2

 

[Nathancat7]

For me, he resonates to Henri Magritte. There is a static dryness to his style that involves a sensual timeless consciousness that is completely different from Dali's approach. The narratives in his paintings are much more direct that Dali's in that they are more detached and literal--reminiscent of Escher--but more lyrical.
His execution is nowhere near the level of Escher--but that's not a bad thing--as it creates more atmosphere.
These are my thoughts--but I think his narratives deserve more study and comments, I apologize,--as I don't understand them all.