It is through science that we can understand illusions as visual or sensory experiences that differ from reality.
So, what are illusions?
Our senses are amazing. They have evolved to allow us to accurately experience a huge range of things, including colours, shapes, sounds, textures, tastes, smells, heat, location, direction etc…
Not only this, but we can accurately experience these things in very different conditions, from bright sunlight to the glow of a TV, from sweltering heat to frost, underwater, zooming past things in a car… the way our senses can adapt is remarkable.
But because our senses are so powerful and flexible, very rarely but sometimes they get it wrong. When we fail to perceive things accurately and experience things that aren’t there, this creates an illusion.
That is what makes optical illusions so special. They give us an insight into how we interact with the world, how our senses work, and they show us how brilliantly our minds are able to get it right most of the time.
The intriguing thing is that, even when we understand how an illusion works, our senses keep getting it wrong. This is how illusions teach us about the philosophy and psychology of perception. And how they give us rare, mind-bending experiences.
At Twist Museum, we have worked with Professor Fiona Macpherson and various leading artists to bring to life the science and philosophy of perception and illusion.
Book a ticket to our museum of illusions and enter a playground for your perception, to explore them all.
Professor Fiona Macpherson
We are proud to be working with Professor Fiona Macpherson at the University of Glasgow, where she is Director of the Centre for the Study of Perceptual Experience. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2017 and a member of Academia Europaea in 2018. Her research concerns include the nature of consciousness, perceptual experience, and the metaphysics of mind.
Professor Nicholas Wade
Professor Nicholas Wade is a British psychologist and academic who specialises in unravelling the complexities of human vision and perception.
His work delves into how we understand space and motion, explores the history of visual science, and bridging the gap between art, science and education. His global collaborations with the likes of Patrick Hughes and Calum Colvin make his research an intriguing exploration of perception, history and creativity.
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