The “Face to Vase” illusion, more commonly known as Rubin’s Vase is a classic optical illusion in which the brain attempts to interpret the image as either a black vase on a white background or two white faces in profile, facing each other. It is a demonstration of figure-ground perception.
What happens if the ‘figure’ and ‘ground’ actually exist in two different spatial locations?
As part of Pepper’s PhD research, he used this well-known illusion to investigate our interpretation of marks in space.
Title: Face to Vase
Date: 1986
Dimensions: H 25.4 x W 20.32cm (10 x 8 in)
Materials: Reflection hologram on glass
Edition: Unlimited (no longer available)
Notes: Produced in association with Light Fantastic, London
The question arose as to whether it is possible, by using a system that locates visual information at different positions in space, to draw using volumes of space.
Would it also be possible for this ‘spatial drawing’ to produce an image with the ambiguous effects normally associated with a figure on a flat surface, such as the phenomenon of figure-ground reversal, as demonstrated by Edgar Rubin, but with the full motion parallax associated with a three-dimensional image?
The following text is from Pepper’s PhD thesis submission:
The question arose whether it is possible, by using a system of locating visual information at different positions in space, to draw, using volumes of space?
Would it also be possible for this ‘space drawing’ to produce an image with the ambiguous effects normally associated with a figure on a flat surface, such as the phenomenon of figure-ground reversal, as demonstrated by Edgar Rubin, with the full motion parallax associated with a three dimensional image?
The following text is from Peppers PhD text submission:
EXPERIMENT 4 FACE/VASE HOLOGRAM
The process of figure ground reversal, as observed by Rubin, continues to take place. This holographic version provides the added paradox that both sections of the image, which oscillate from being figure to ground and back again, rather than being marks on a flat surface, are in fact individual spaces which display full parallaw in all directions.
It is possible, by manipulating the holographic process, to produce an image which exists because of the juxtaposition of individual spaces. In this case the junction between the two spaces is emphasised by the process of subjective contours, but in three dimensions.”
Volume – Volume
Not only is the process of figure ground reversal demonstrated, but in the same example object-ground reversal is apparent as well as a new phenomenon “volume-volume” reversal.