Hanne Peeraer

When I was 7, my father gave me a book of “Magic-Eye Pictures”. He said that if I managed to blur my vision just the right amount, a shape would suddenly pop out of the pictures, as if in 3D. After hours of trying, I finally saw a big shark appear from a pattern of blue and yellow shapes. And then suddenly, it was gone again. Over the years, I kept coming back to this magical book and its hypnotic optical secrets. Fifteen years later, my artistic practice continues to build on this puzzle of magical wonder and scientific reasoning. 

To make sure my puzzle includes both realms, I search for its pieces in my gut and in my brain. Lately they have turned out to be mental images from my favourite novels, the physics of light, the history of labyrinths, sacred geometry and origami, and my dreams. I turn these into objects, using materials in which I can infuse my images. This includes things like plaster that partially absorbs each layer of paint, or translucent paper that catches and reflects the light. They become fossils of a familiar yet alien nature, repeatedly asking encoded questions with answers that are never really there.