Having a Moment: Trompe L'Oeil

By Chris Frey
April 12, 2010

For centiuries, trompe l’oeil, French for “trick of the eye,” has playfully challenged our perceptions of what is real. The technique involves using hyper-realistic images on two-dimensional surfaces to create the optical illusion of three dimensions. Trompe l’oeil has been used on the ceiling paintings of ancient cathedrals to illustrate the heavens, on wall murals to depict windows or doorways that don’t exist, on Marc Jacobs' fall runway as a bow on a dress, as the interior decor of the just-opened Martin Margiela boutique in Miami, in Stella McCartney's new collection for the Gap and even on people, as in the case of Demi Moore’s controversial Vanity Fair cover, where her body was painted to appear as if she were wearing a man’s tuxedo.

Recently, in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, artist Lies Maculan used the technique in her photo-realistic room installation, called The Dream Shop. Here, wooden shelves appear to be chock full of various objects, but in fact, the whole thing—from the shelves to the items they hold—is simply flat photographic surfaces. Whether found in fashion, art, interiors or the streets, trompe l’oeil asks us to pause and acknowledge the humor, trickery and play that surround us.

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Maison Martin Margiela Miami Store
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