Magic is perhaps that one thing that speaks to everyone- regardless of age. The young are in awe of the trick that just happened while the older generations sit and try to figure out “what just happened”. Magic, as we all know, is usually illusions at their best. They trick our brains, tease it and then leave it to wonder “How the hell did that just happen!”
Similarly, magicians come in all forms. There are the ones who pull out rabbits from their top hats; the others who can guess the card you are holding, and then there are the special ones- those who have the most unique and awe-inspiring tricks up their sleeves- usually the most subtle slides of hands that leave you stunned and speechless.
We discovered one such unique artist, Rob Gonsalves, who prefers to show his magic on a canvas, with the help of his trusty assistant- Optical Illusion.
Artist Rob Gonsalves was born in Toronto, Canada in 1959. After an enthusiastic response in 1990 at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Gonsalves devoted himself to painting full time.
Although Gonsalves’ work is often categorized as surrealistic, it differs, as the images are deliberately planned and result from conscious thought. Ideas are largely generated by the external world and involve recognizable human activities, using carefully planned illusionist devices. Gonsalves injects a sense of magic into realistic scenes. As a result, the term “Magic Realism” describes his work accurately. Many of his paintings feature wide landscapes and young children — which seems appropriate for both the whimsical joy and philosophical reflection conjured by his painstaking artwork.
Not only are his images beautiful to look at, but they also often make the viewer stop for a second, closer glance- something that is rare in this day and age. His artwork is subtle, but astonishing and “Oh god” is one of the many little exclamations that keep popping into your mind, as your eyes widen in wonder and awe.
His work includes simple scenes which depict most of the things you see in your day to day surroundings with just a little twist- it is the magic of optical illusions at its finest!
We’ve (tried to) select our top 10 favourite artworks of his, but you can always (GO,Go Go!) check out his work at his facebook page
All images have been sourced from his facebook page
