Ta da! This is my latest in the Honest Magic series which forms part of the artefact component of my Masters of Visual Art by Research studies.

This image was the reason for my sudden divergence into art in public places with the optical illusion installation brainstorm. That’s a lot of work for a photograph, I know. It’s just the way I roll. In actual fact brainstorm took less time to make than hand embroidering the the illusion in the image world building (also part of Honest Magic).

There’s always a risk of “ruining the magic” of an artwork when the artist tries to explain what it’s about, and I’m really reluctant to tread that fine line. Because this work is part of my research project I really do need to explain myself. This as-yet-untitled photograph is my interpretation of the mind-altering effects of reading any kind of book as a pre-literate child. Luigi Serafini also attempted to recreate this feeling of the edges of understanding (for adults who learnt to read long ago) with his acclaimed Codex Seraphinianus.

Many, many thanks to my very patient and helpful son Orlando for continuing to be good natured about appearing in my photographs, my husband Brian for the one hundred million ways in which he is helpful, and James Jean for the inspiration behind the image.