Anamorphic Sculptures

Making art that infuses science and physics is no easy feat, and is also not the typical path of a scientist or an artist. However, there are many obvious and not-so-obvious ways that art and science intersect regularly, and there are even artists who intentionally merge the two fields in their creative practices. 

Science can be used to create optical illusions in art, engaging the viewer in a multi-dimensional way. An example of this is anamorphic sculptures. These are distorted-looking sculptures built with a reflective mirror that, when glanced upon, portrays a perfectly recognizable image of the sculpture. For example, in an anamorphic sculpture of a frog, the actual frog subject will not look as such to the naked eye. However, with a glance into the mirror that is placed in front of the frog, the viewer can see the frog in perfect form without a trace of distortion. This is achieved by the artist through focus, careful sculpting, and intricate attention to detail. 

The conversations that anamorphic sculptures can spark amongst viewers, as well as the unique appearance of the sculptures, designates them as rare in the art world. When placed in a common space, an anamorphic sculpture is a fascinating and visually stimulating masterpiece, drawing in the eyes of spectators who have never seen a similar sculptural illusion before and are made to figure out the artwork by engaging with it. Anamorphic sculptures therefore inspire people to explore science and its intersection with art, because of the unique result that is achieved when the artwork has been completed. They also take people out o0f the chaos of daily life and provide an escape, even if just for a few seconds. This is the goal of anamorphic sculptor Jonty Hurwitz. “I want to be able to give [the viewer] this moment where they walk in and they look and they're like ”wow, hang on, what just happened there?" and pull them out of their reality for a moment," he says. “To give little perspective, sometimes you need to be shocked into perspective and suddenly you will ask different questions and put life into perspective… I want to give a gift to the viewer and for them to interact.” 

Anamorphic sculptures are very rate, and the majority of them have been created by Hurwitz, a pioneer in the field from South Africa. His sculptures are sold at Eden Gallery, the international contemporary art group representing him at their gallery locations worldwide. 

With a wide range of perspectives that anamorphic sculptures draw upon, they can stimulate the mind and allow for a new exploration into the arts, revealing the endless possibilities for both artistic creation and collection. They can also provide a breathtaking relatability for the viewer, as Hurwitz's works in particular often draw from his personal life. An example of his sculpture “Third Kiss," which, in the mirror in front of the sculpture, becomes an angle holding their arms around a woman, in the midst of a kiss. It's inspired by a work in the Louvre called the “Cupid and Psyche." “”Third Kiss" talks about [our] relationship, it talks about art history, it talks about science, it's got this incredible production technology with copper plating and special paints and polishing and high precision and silver," Hurwitz explains. “and yet, ultimately it talks about Greek mythology, love, the complexity of love; what you see is not always what a relationship is about. Love is complex, love is anamorphic, history is complex and anamorphic. ”Third Kiss" has got all of those elements." 

Jonty Hurwitz's rare and personal combination of science and the arts in his one-of-a-kind anamorphic sculptures can be viewed in-person at Eden Gallery as well as on the Eden website. Explore his collection today to find a visually stimulating and fascinating addition to your space.