MAD ART, France ❧

I love surprises, especially when you think you see something, think it's what you think it is, then to be sure, you squint hard enough to scrutinize the image, and you go "la vache! That's trompe l'oeil! Oooo la la. C'est génial ce truc!" These images give me just the surprise I need, and I'm really happy to chance upon them today.

Trompe l'oeil, the literal meaning from the French term is "that which deceives the eye", was initially applied in 18th century Europe to extremely realistic still lifes. Although it is understood now to describe the kind of art that draws and fools a viewer's eye, for a moment, into perceiving reproduced images were real as three-dimensional scenes or still lifes.

To execute trompe l'oeil well, the art form requires meticulous attention to detail, accurate assessment of measurement and sizing, nuance of light and gradation of colour so the work appears in a three-dimensional instead of two-dimensional execution.

All around France, talented trompe l'oeil artists churn out fabulous images that show imagination and creativity, quite unlike what you'll encounter in places like Ireland where the best you can get are bright colourful one tone paint on an otherwise blank and dreary wall. Not that I have anything against Ireland, I love the country like I love Scotland, or a brightly painted wall (especially if it's in lavender [fat grin]) - but you really can't pit a one-tone painted wall with the incredible work you see on this page.

Trompe l'oeil was never really known in Hong Kong before the 1980's, and I never came across an excellently executed and quirky one when I used to travel around the Asia-Pacific region. Now, quite a few four to five star hotels sport the art in Asia, which is really nice. I love the distraction they create and how they make you focus, or day-dream over a cup of coffee especially if the scene in the Asian hotel is that of a European landscape or theme. (I was going to add, like Michelangelo's David, but we will vigorously scratch that out and wash our hands and keyboard with soap and water.)

It would actually take my first business in 1986 as an interior designer for me to encourage the trend when a young English artist came to see me with her portfolio. She had followed her chartered surveyor husband on his assignment to Hong Kong, and wanted to know if there were interior design projects that could use her art. I made a few calls and gave her some contacts, and soon I would hear from her telling me of the projects she managed to get. Bravo! Some time later, I was glad to see the art form florish in the Philippines especially after I recommended the use of trompe l'oeil to a Filipina girlfriend and chef for her new Italian restaurant.

Much as I was familiar with various aspect of interior design and art then, it would take my first European trip in 1990, with Paris as the first destination on the list, to encounter the art form in all its fabulous glory. And how I loved it even more.

It's really hard to beat the French and their fantastic way of creating just the right "magic" to merge and blend the art form to its very real and originally bland and blah walls so it tricks the eye deceptively and beautifully. I find myself scanning the landscape these days on my trips through France for a glimpse of their work just so I can smile happily and say to myself, "Ahhh, that's sooooo cool!"


The images here are from the guys at Mad'Art who do superb work. In my books, they're one of the "best" so far as they're definitely masters of these impressive visual illusions.

Check their website. It's an extension of their work and image. I'm glad I came to know their work, it's worth recommending to contacts in Asia.