Today’s illusion is called Platforms.  It is an art installation created by Aakash Nihalani using tape on the wall and ground for Parrish Art Museum in Long Island, New York.  This anamorphic creation gives the impression that four square platforms are floating in space.  The man seen in the picture appears to attempting to jump from the first platform to the second one.  How successful do you think he will be?

Jumping from the first platform to the second platform would prove to be extremely difficult.  The animation below helps to show how this anamorphic work looks from an alternate angle.

Regarding his art, Nihalani notes:

People need to understand that how it is isn’t how it has to be.  My work is created in reaction to what we readily encounter in our lives, sidewalks and doorways, buildings and bricks.  I’m just connecting the dots differently to make my own picture.  Others need to see that they can create too, connecting their own dots, in their own places.

(via Aakash Nihalani)

Perspective matters.  The angled lines in the animation presented below give the impression that the floor is sloping downward to the left.  As such, the man standing on the left appears to be much shorter than the man standing on the right.  As the man on the left walks up the incline to stand directly next to the man on the right, it is revealed that the two figures are roughly the same size.  A similar effect can also be seen in the SUV illusion posted on this site a couple of years ago.

This relative size animation was created by Sheepfilms based out of Brighton, United Kingdom.

18-year-old photograph Laura Williams used a mirror that she found as a prop to make it appear that the upper portion of her body had completely disappeared.  It almost looks as if the portion inside the mirror was edited using Photoshop, but I do not believe that to be the case.

Speaking about her photography, Laura noted the following:

“I like the idea of creating an image that’s perhaps a little less obvious, like an illusion.  One that really intrigues the viewer and tries to trick the eye. It’s something I strive to do, and I love it!”

(via Flickr)

The vibrant flowing colors of this peripheral drift motion illusion appear to swirl and move as your eyes move around the image.  For another great motion illusion, have a look at the Psychedelic Motion Illusion.

(via Kaia Nao)

Daniel Siering and Mario Shu transformed an ordinary tree in Potsdam, Germany into a deceptive work of art.

Once they were finished, it appeared as though a section of the tree had been removed and the top portion was left hovering in mid air.  The video below provides a playful look at the finished product as two pedestrians and an automobile travel behind the tree.

(via Street Art Utopia)

The photograph below shows two different buildings, one on the left and one on the right.  After taking a careful look at it, can you figure out which building is in the foreground of the photograph and which is in the background?

This video version of the famous dragon illusion from Brusspup is based on an original idea by the late magician Jerry Andrus.  Brusspup’s original idea was to test out the illusion with many dragons all at once.  While he hoped to use 20 to 30 simultaneously, he ultimately settled on using just 8.  Watching multiple dragons keep their eyes focused on you as the camera moves from side to side is impressive.  Brusspup was also able to create an extremely large version in his living room which ends up producing a slightly creepy effect.

At the end of the video, the trick behind the illusion is revealed when the camera moves to an extreme angle.  For a similar effect, be sure to check out both the Magic Floating Cube and Crazy Nuts Illusion.

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