optical illusion art made from strips of tape by damien gilley

 
optical illusion art made from strips of tape by damien gilley
image © mark woods photography

american artist damien gilley is the creator of mesmerizing, complex optical illusions from strips of colored tape. gilley begins by visiting a specific location, from gallery walls to public spaces, and takes photos of the structural layout, architecture, and composition of the space. he considers the specific proportions and perspective to make his illusions visually flawless. after sketching his design onto the pictures he’s taken, gilley projects his vision onto the walls of the site, then places strips of sticky tape over the projection, masking it in a panorama of colored lines. the resulting geometry plays with the architecture of the space and challenges the perception of the viewer.

his current work ‘axis index’ is exhibiting at suyama space in seattle, washington —  an installation that transforms the architecture of the gallery into a complex mirage that manipulates and distorts its natural perspective.

a section of ‘axis index’ at suyama space
image © mark woods photography

 
a detail of ‘axis index’
image © mark woods photography

close up of ‘axis index’
image © mark woods photography

‘fortress’

 
‘1 + 1 = 1’

a detail of ‘1 + 1 = 1’

 
‘plus minus’

‘masterplexed’