Be it on a screen for a computer or piece of paper, optical illusions can be fascinating. They’re an intriguing demonstration of how the brain interprets information from our senses to create a sense of reality.
Lines that bend and buckle shapes that pop up, color variations–all of these are part of optical illusions. The human visual system is constantly processing light colors, distance, and dimensions.
What is an Optical Illusion?
An optical illusion occurs when an image irritates the brain and the eyes. In one-tenth of a second the visual system sends hundreds of images to your brain. The brain organizes the information it receives by drawing boundaries and analyzing areas of contrast, sorting colors and even making guesses, based on previous experiences, what it is supposed to be seeing.
Sometimes it’s not clear what’s wrong. This isn’t a problem with the brain or eyes. It is simply a disagreement about the image you’re seeing. Similar illusions are experienced through other senses. If you’ve got a spider crawling up your arms, it may appear as if it’s going down.
There are three types of optical illusions: literal physical and cognitive. The physiological illusions are those that appear to be moving however, they’re actually still images. They occur due to the brain over stimulating its senses in order to make sense of motion in a still image. The illusions that are created be as simple as the Ponzo Illusion, where two lines appear to be of different lengths.
Optic illusions in advertising – optical
Optical illusions are employed in museums, psychology classes and even by your hippie buddy who has posters hanging on his walls. However, you might not have believed that they could be employed in advertising. They are very effective in grabbing attention of people and creating a sense of movement or, in certain cases the appearance of crinkly eyelids.
Jane Pain, a lingerie brand with a cult following Jane Pain recently launched a campaign that showcased optical illusions in the shape of bums and thighs covering their clothing. If you take a closer look however, you’ll notice that the parts of your body not being covered are actually elbows and knees.
Another cool optical illusion that has been utilized in advertising is the Kit Kat truck, which creates the illusion that the driver is sitting in a hammock instead of driving the truck. This illusion is an excellent way to grab people’s attention and encourages them to take an break with Kit Kat. Kit Kat. This ad uses perceptual priming as well as set to establish a positive association with the brand.
Optic Illusions in Art
Optic illusions are a popular element in modern art, with pieces like Bridget Riley’s swirls of spots and stripes, and MC Escher’s never-ending staircase as well as the Penrose triangle being among the most well-known examples. However, optical illusions have been a major strand in art since the Renaissance which saw artists employ linear perspective and the camera obscura to create incredible illusions of depth and space.
Op art, which is often geometric, is not representational. It uses lines forms, shapes, and blocks of colors to create the illusion of motion as well as hidden images or expanding or bending. Its popularity began in 1960s thanks to the work of Victor Vasarely and the 1965 exhibition The Responsive Eye that brought the movement increased exposure to the public.
Influenced by the Op art movement, the painter Joseph Albers experimented with how hues interact and influence one another. His Homage to the Square series of works employs colored squares that are layered over each other to examine how different shades influence our perception of shape and depth.
Optical illusions in Music
The latest optical illusion that is making the in the streets is a musical illusion. It is a trick that involves an identical set of musical notes. They provide the appearance of lyrics when playing simultaneously on the keyboard.
These nifty illusions illustrate how your brain utilizes information from your senses make a mental picture of your environment. The brain is extremely strong when it comes to this, whether through natural or deliberate.
Artists such as Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely experimented with illusionary effects in their works. Soto created immersive art installations that blurred the distinction between viewers and artists by inviting viewers to interact with his artwork.