The Power of Illusion & Perception

artwork by Amelia Bisbardis

Illusory and perceptive qualities in contemporary art can come in many forms. Sometimes just cropping an object or scenery a certain way or capturing the subject from a certain angle can give the illusion and perception of an entirely different perspective, such as in the work of Amelia Bisbardis. Other artists incorporate strategic ‘substances’ into their work, such as in the case of Kateryna Reznichenko who uses an invasive blue material in the form of paint which ‘corrupts’ her figures. A photographer such as Maksym Galyuk will use monochromatic black and white photography with an intense depth of field to have the viewer focus on the intensity of the behavior of his subjects, followed by strategic props such as tattoos being revealed through a sensual dress amidst rows of flowers. An artform such as light design can manipulate the penetration of luminosity through careful placement and shaping of neon lights amidst a room full of darkness, such as in the work of Kris Kim. 

video still of Friendly Father, Kim Jong Un!

One of the most recent popular visual substances containing alterations of illusion and perception have come in the form of a viral video which was produced by North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) in 2024. The music video titled Friendly Father, Kim Jong Un!, reveals a strategic paradise where all is well under the faithful guidance of the leader of the country. Upon watching the video, the viewer may be forgiven to think North Korea as a wonderful country to live in. In the scenes, citizens from all sections of society ranging from military personnel to workers celebrate life in a great sense of jubilee. This contemporary piece of propaganda offers a case study in how just creating a catchy tune, bright colors, smiling faces, dancing, and a sense of mania can create the illusion and perception of serenity and perfection. Friendly Father is an extremely entertaining video and song, however conceals the reality of the state of North Korea which is mired in repressive punishment of dissident voices, food supply issues, poverty, and excessively punitive laws. Regardless of the disingenuous perception of reality, the video became a huge internet sensation garnering millions of views on Youtube and other platforms due to the catchy music and stunning, happy visuals. 

artwork by Amelia Bisbardis

In contemporary art, illusion and perception becomes utilized to convey certain concepts such as invoking a sense of unfamiliarity, irony, or to even ‘trick’ the viewer into believing they are viewing a subject which does not appear to be representative of reality either in physical or conceptual form. The contemporary artist may use illusion and perception to alter the state of the viewer to reconceptualize notions which they have already settled in their mind. In essence, illusion and perception in visual art may represent a reinterpretation of events or subject matter into an entirely realm of understanding. Illusion and perception does not always need to be literal, many times just incorporating integrative techniques such as combining multiple artforms into one creates new experiences in how we understand subject matter and subjects alike. 

artwork by Maksym Galyuk

Humans have a tendency to create opposing ideals, which is why there remains so much conflict in the world. The artist can create a sense of a ‘false flag’, representative of conflict, which may conceive an initial idea but upon further inspection actually conveys an opposing concept. Such a conceptual approach may entail the use of decorative elements or tools which are assembled or constructed to have anti-commercial qualities or perhaps surfaces are manipulated to alter states of mood and psyche. 

artwork by Kateryna Reznichenko

The power of illusion and perception lies within the artist to use as a tool to further conceptualize how subjects have a direct impact on humanity or our environments. When artists manipulate their subject matter, materials, and process to have an altered state of reality, the end results provide the viewer with deeper contemplation to rethink and even question our ideals and pre-conceived notions and biases. In terms of visual art, we may normally associate illusions with painting, however, newer forms of visual communication such as performance, assemblage, and photography can reveal ironic dichotomies from using strategic hand-made props in a conceptual manner to interact, document, or alter through these various modes of expression. 

artwork by Kris Kim

What may seem like such a simple concept turns out to be far more complex than we realize. The power of illusion and perception in the visual arts can be regarded as a tool which revitalizes our senses and retrofits systems of thoughts and configurations to be re-structuralized into new holistic meanings. If we, the audience, change our own perception as to how we interpret art and recognize are pre-conceived biases, we can build a deeper appreciation for how contemporary art offers us increasingly in-depth avenues of understanding which were not capable of conceiving in previous eras. These contemporary times offer exciting promises and substances to alter our perception and regard the power of illusion as a tool of a post-modern wizard, a vehicle of enchantment and wonder to recreate the very definition of purpose and meaning towards familiarity and staleness.