Impossible images project

Professor Chris Mortenson, Discipline of Philosophy, School of Humanities, University of Adelaide

The term 'impossible images' refers to images depicting objects which cannot exist in normal 3-D Euclidean space.

Impossible images have a long history, stretching back to the walls of Pompeii. However, the major work was done in the twentieth century, beginning with Oscar Reutersvaard 1934, then following him some twenty years later by M.C.Escher and Roger Penrose, then later many others including Bruno Ernst.

Work has tended to focus on producing new sorts of images, while little work has been done on their mathematical description. However, the most fruitful approach to the latter would seem to be to define geometrical objects existing in an inconsistent 3-D space, with projections to the 2-D images.

This project aims to investigate impossible images on several levels.

1. to continue the work of producing new sorts of images
2. to classify those already found: so far, it seems that four main types have been discovered
3. to animate these images
4. to apply the techniques of stereoscopic images and virtual reality to produce 3-D effects
5. to provide mathematical descriptions of the inconsistent 3-D spaces, utilising the techniques of inconsistent mathematics.

For an example of the animation work being done, watch 'Escher Meets Ernst', by Peter Quigley, Chris Mortensen and Steve Leishman.

For more information, see Inconsistent Images.

eResearch SA's role in this project was the provision of stereo stills and video of real-life scenes which were edited in an attempt to convert real objects to impossible objects within the real-world framework, as well as advising on convenient viewing methods for such stereo content.

eResearch SA can advise on, and assist with, the capture, processing and display of stereographic stills and video imagery. We also have experience processing archival stereograms for display with contemporary equipment.