Felice Varini's town-sized illusion

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By Becky Stern
Posted 2009/10/28 @ 6:15 am
Category Art & Design

The buildings in the town of Vercorin in the Swiss Alps contribute to an impressive piece by Felice Varini, called Cercle et suite d’Ã©clats. The pattern was projected on the town from the vantage point, then traced and painted. Photographs from the same spot in daylight make the town look flat, almost like a postcard. What I’d like to know is how he got the town to go along with it; I could see an easily-repainted suburb in the States being convinced, but this quaint (and much older) town in Switzerland seems like a much bigger challenge. Don’t miss the panorama picture on Varini’s site. [via Core77]

In the Maker Shed

8 Responses to Felice Varini's town-sized illusion

jake on October 28th, 2009 at 9:15 am said:

Yes the scale is impressive, but also noteworthy in this vein is the work of georges rousse…

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josiahritchie.myopenid.com on October 28th, 2009 at 9:20 am said:

I’m wondering if they were sold on it by promises of bringing tourists to the town.

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Andrea on October 28th, 2009 at 4:20 pm said:

If you look through the photos on his website, you’ll see it’s all made from tin foil. Or reflective tape or what have you. It’s not painted on, so it might be fairly easy to remove, which would probably convince more people to take part. Still very cool!

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craig on October 28th, 2009 at 5:33 pm said:

haha this would never happen in america… it would require a form of socialism

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eldon on October 28th, 2009 at 5:40 pm said:

This was done 40 years ago in the UK by some people called the Mysterons (google)

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- tudza on October 28th, 2009 at 11:45 pm said:
  
  A yes, the Mysterons. This was yet another result of their war of nerves against the people of Earth.
  
  Captain Scarlet could have foiled this evil plan, but since it involved foil, he played right into their hands.
  
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Sir Richard Gozinya on October 28th, 2009 at 9:47 pm said:

Very interesting use of perspective and undefined spaces to expose the fragility of human perception vis-a-vis spatial disorientation and socially conditioned response. Clearly a serious and wise comment on the fracturing of modern identity and corresponding personal alienation emanating from postmodern disorientation and angst. Didn’t care for the hidden phallic images, though.

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- Anonymous on November 2nd, 2009 at 12:08 am said:
  
  Ha ha. Very smart! Thank you.
  
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