One of the most obvious examples of Surprise hangs on my wall behind my desk.
Unlike any other
piece of art I own (and I own a lot of wacky art), this one never fails to stun
the one who looks at it. It’s a painting by Patrick
Hughes, one of Great Britain's most celebrated Pop artists. I could
spend hours trying to describe it, but to put it most simply, it’s a panoramic
view of Venetian canals, painted on an accordion-like, three-dimensional
canvas.
What makes it Surprising is how it “moves” when you
walk across it. Using a reverse
perspective (where he paints the near on the canvas’s furthermost “valleys” and
the far on its closest “peaks”), Patrick creates an illusion of movement so realistic
and profound that people have actually had to sit down due to sea-sickness upon
viewing it.
Pop art was always meant to shock the senses, but
when it does so intensely and physically, you know that there’s a mad genius
behind it. I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Patrick earlier this year (he's the happy tall guy next to me below in front of the Venice painting), and his brilliance goes way beyond the canvas; his obsession with twisted reality extends to books on verbal puns and optical illusions. A fascinating man!
Do yourself a favor and check him out. Then drop his name to impress your friends!