Jiaqi Li
SCM City University of Hong Kong
Printed Trompe L’Oeil: Urban Visual Tricks
Trompe l’oeil, French for “eye-deceiver,” refers to an art historical tradition in painting and murals designed to fool the eye into perceiving something as real. Today, printed trompe l’oeil has shifted away from its art-centered origins to become a practical tool in urban landscapes, accessible to
ordinary people (e.g., printed forest images on construction site fences).
My presentation will include the following sections:
1. Case Studies. I will share several representative examples from a collection of 200 digital cases, such as:
a) Printed images of forests pasted on construction site fences;
b) Projected figures of virtual guides at airports;
c) Printed food images placed in Tupperware containers. This section aims to define the term “printed trompe l’oeil” and explore questions about image representation and illusion in urban life.
2. Inspiration from Artistic Tradition. By comparing modern printed trompe l’oeil with the traditional painting technique, this section will examine the evolution of this visual trick. I will explore the balance between virtuality and reality, referencing visual theories (e.g., Baudrillard) to argue that printed trompe l’oeil has diverged from traditional art. In practical applications, this technique functions as a tool for concealment, embellishment, and decoration in urban spaces, offering a quick and cost-effective way to create visual completeness. It reflects a subjective, idealistic approach in today’s image-saturated world, serving practical psychological needs. Drawing on several researchers’ arguments, I will argue that people are not truly deceived by printed trompe l’oeil; rather, they engage with it in a realistic manner.
3. Trompe L’Oeil as a Method in Contemporary Art. Numerous contemporary artists incorporate trompe l’oeil techniques into installations, hotography, media art, and performance. By analyzing their work, I will explore the connections between visual theory and artistic practice.
BIO
Jiaqi Li’s academic research focuses on visual tricks and illusions. His art practices focus on the logic of desire and capital consumption logic. He specializes in painting and object making. His works celebrate an electronic and fast-food type of life. Jiaqi Li earned his BFA from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (2019) and MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago as a China Scholarship Council-sponsored student (2021). This year, he will start his PhD at City University of Hong Kong.
ARTWORK [6]
Effective Ineffectiveness: Facts About Space Collage, 2020
Space Collage is a phenomenon of those 2D life-size pictures installed in 3D space. The video explores its applications in several aspects. And by comparing this phenomena and artworks crafted with this method, the video summarizes and classifies a technique that its academic value has been ignored.
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SCM City University of Hong Kong
Printed Trompe L’Oeil: Urban Visual Tricks
Trompe l’oeil, French for “eye-deceiver,” refers to an art historical tradition in painting and murals designed to fool the eye into perceiving something as real. Today, printed trompe l’oeil has shifted away from its art-centered origins to become a practical tool in urban landscapes, accessible to
ordinary people (e.g., printed forest images on construction site fences).
My presentation will include the following sections:
1. Case Studies. I will share several representative examples from a collection of 200 digital cases, such as:
a) Printed images of forests pasted on construction site fences;
b) Projected figures of virtual guides at airports;
c) Printed food images placed in Tupperware containers. This section aims to define the term “printed trompe l’oeil” and explore questions about image representation and illusion in urban life.
2. Inspiration from Artistic Tradition. By comparing modern printed trompe l’oeil with the traditional painting technique, this section will examine the evolution of this visual trick. I will explore the balance between virtuality and reality, referencing visual theories (e.g., Baudrillard) to argue that printed trompe l’oeil has diverged from traditional art. In practical applications, this technique functions as a tool for concealment, embellishment, and decoration in urban spaces, offering a quick and cost-effective way to create visual completeness. It reflects a subjective, idealistic approach in today’s image-saturated world, serving practical psychological needs. Drawing on several researchers’ arguments, I will argue that people are not truly deceived by printed trompe l’oeil; rather, they engage with it in a realistic manner.
3. Trompe L’Oeil as a Method in Contemporary Art. Numerous contemporary artists incorporate trompe l’oeil techniques into installations, hotography, media art, and performance. By analyzing their work, I will explore the connections between visual theory and artistic practice.
BIO
Jiaqi Li’s academic research focuses on visual tricks and illusions. His art practices focus on the logic of desire and capital consumption logic. He specializes in painting and object making. His works celebrate an electronic and fast-food type of life. Jiaqi Li earned his BFA from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (2019) and MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago as a China Scholarship Council-sponsored student (2021). This year, he will start his PhD at City University of Hong Kong.
ARTWORK [6]
Effective Ineffectiveness: Facts About Space Collage, 2020
Space Collage is a phenomenon of those 2D life-size pictures installed in 3D space. The video explores its applications in several aspects. And by comparing this phenomena and artworks crafted with this method, the video summarizes and classifies a technique that its academic value has been ignored.
<< previous | next >>