Fake Tree Vortex Optical Illusion

While we’re still discussing dimensions, there’s an interesting artwork discovered by Chelle and Pedro Rato (thanks for notifying me guys)! Would you believe me if I told you, that this custom-made backyard deck is actually flat as it can be? That’s right, the shown garden deck was specially designed for one of the Apple’s execs, art collector Jeff Dauber. It was built for him by Berkeley-based architect Thom Faulders. Btw, it doesn’t stop there – Faulders designed the exec’s whole house. I haven’t seen it, but I bet it looks awesome! More pictures after the break…

As hard as it may seem to believe, this garden is actually flat!
As hard as it may seem to believe, this garden is actually flat!


Jeff Dauber’s backyard deck will not (despite initial impression) suck you into some wormhole, and then throw you back in time. Thom Flauders, designed the piece to create an optical illusion of curves where there are only flat surfaces. Here are some quotes from Dauber:

I wanted someone to barf when they look at it. The deck looks like it is sloping away from you.” – Jeff

Garden Vortexes Optical Illusion

42 Replies to “Fake Tree Vortex Optical Illusion”

  1. Wow. I’d totally want that in my backyard, too. Make people think there’s a black hole in my yard. (Insert snicker here.)

  2. Yup, I think I’d throw up in that back yard – I think it looks VERY effective as an illusion. But then I can’t even watch Imax movies or the Dogma-style of films because they make me sick.

  3. Really nice one.. And this type of illusions are not really hard to make at your house.. All you need is a projector and a good idea :)

  4. I think the illusion would be better if the designed panels were larger…the bricks in the background and the trough on the side kind of kills it. But, still a cool concept.

  5. First, I love this photo and I love your site!
    Second, why would you name it Fake? Isn’t it a real photo of his garden? I thought the label ‘fake’ was only for changed photo’s like in Photoshop or something. This seems like a real
    tree vortex illusion to me! Greetings, NeeL

  6. I still wonder though, how it looks in 3D (i.e. if you see in in reality and not on a photo). The effect might be bigger if you watch it like this in a 2D-picture.

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