They Might Look Like Piles Of Junk, But These Junk Piles Are Also Works Of Art

There’s a new term in the art world you need to know: anamorphosis. Anamorphosis is the practice of strategically placing objects so that when viewed from a certain angle, they create an image. From that angle, they can turn into portraits and other works of art. From any other angle, though, they revert to just being a pile of junk.

French artist Bernard Pras is recognized for being the leader in this field. He uses just about anything to create his interactive sculptures including toys, household items, fabric, dust and garbage. The placement of everything is exacting, even if it doesn’t look that way at first, and the result is surprisingly accurate to the original pieces Pras works from. He works with recognizable subjects, namely the seminal works of famous artists, that almost everyone can pick out immediately, such as Salvador Dalí’s and Vincent Van Gogh’s self portraits, Hokusai’s wave, and the Uncle Sam poster.

Due to his unusual and labor-intenstive work, Pras has gained quite a following. You can check out some of his other anamorphic pieces, as well as some more traditional work, on his website.

Via DeMilked