[Masters of Illusion]

One of the aspects of art is the attempt to mirror reality; to take a a flat surface and create the illusion of space. One way to create the illusion of space is through the use of perspective, a method pioneered during the Renaissance. The masters discovered through mathematical formulas and careful measurements, our views of reality could be mimicked and placed upon a three dimensional surface. This allowed the masters to literally paint doorways into another world, opening up a portal to lands of Biblical proportion through the use of simple line a spacing.

Today, however, Illusion is not so easily mastered. With the now everyday use of photography, a realistic snapshot on a two dimensional plane is common to man. And with special effects and digital paintings breaking past any sense of illusion (in animation's treacherous trek across the uncanny valley), perspective is no longer an illusion; it is expected.

Why is this change important? Because the purpose of illusion is to bring about wonder and amazement. Illusion, in the days before digital technology, was magic. It helped humans healthily interact with the mystery of the world around them. It allowed us to be reminded that there are things we cannot understand, and that this should bring us joy rather than despair.

In todays world, where illusion has lost it's mystic powers, we have almost lost our ability to be mystified. In the world where everything is calculated, quantified, and scrutinized, we so easily forget that there is so much we actually don't know. 

Art and design must continually attempt to mystify. We must move to places still a mystery to remind us that to be human means to be curious. We must understand that reality is not as simple as we sometimes thing (look at the internet-is it real?) Today there is more mystery than there ever has been in the world, with technology unlocking the depth of a cell, and the ability of the human to interact in worlds that exist outside of matter, and yet the awareness of mystery is beyond low. Art must continue to mystify, engaging the viewers to help people remember what it means to be a human.