A Very Dutch Ghost

A Very Dutch Ghost is an experiential sculptural work that merges art and science to extend the contemporary canon of anamorphosis. It comprises a stainless-steel concave mirror and a bronze sculpture: an anamorphically distorted skull precisely calculated so its reflection appears undistorted.

Using a concave mirror, the work produces a “real image”, a reflection that appears to float in front of the mirror rather than behind it, creating an ethereal, ghost-like, almost holographic effect. As the viewer moves, the image shifts, making the observer an active mediator between sculpture and apparition.

The work draws on Holbein’s The Ambassadors and Van Gogh’s skeletal studies, while building on Louis Pratt’s long exploration of anamorphosis. Developed during Pratt’s PhD with Dr Nico Pietroni, it uses custom ray-tracing software to correct distortions from curved mirrors.

More info: https://vimeo.com/862312591