This video shows a selection of my 3D Interactive Art images. From 1984, when I first developed 3D street painting, I considered my illusions to be a new form of art. It linked the artistic and classical imagery I was studying to the contemporary world using perspective geometry and photography. By transforming the process of drawing into a performance, I was able to give classical themes a modern twist. This new approach permitted me to avoid dealing with some of the antagonism that still existed toward traditional drawing in the 1980s.
3D interactive pavement art has become a viral movement in recent years, which gives me great joy, though I am only sometimes credited for the innovation. Once I publish the particular form of anamorphic perspective I use, it will become more apparent that my approach is substantially different from historical anamorphic geometry.
My objective in inventing the 3D street painting was to insert my original classical drawings into contemporary environments. I established the creation of the works as performances so that the public could witness the process of creating a classical drawing.
For nearly 20 years, I was the only artist who could work in this way, but now artists can use graphics programs to do the distortions or arrive at a similar effect with traditional “quadratura” techniques. Most artists are not classically trained and have modified the art form to suit their individual personal abilities, artistic goals, and aesthetic tastes.
Generally, I begin with considering the environment of the artwork, as I create for a specific place. Then I design the geometry of the work and choose an appropriate theme. In many ways, my creative process is similar to that of an architect. I will even draw and paint an architectural frame for the work if I plan to install it in multiple locations.
I began my street painting compositions with studies of renaissance masterpieces. Once I started to create original pieces, arts festivals invited me to participate and help organize their events. Because I was creating the works for public venues, I generally chose subjects with traditional and recognizable themes. In Italy, the themes of my street paintings were generally religious. In the USA, I mostly worked with classical mythology. Myths are fun for me to draw, and appropriate for my artistic style. It is satisfying for me that children can often recognize the figures I depict in the artwork.
We live in a particularly complex society and lack consensus in our views of history, morals, and culture. Even Hollywood studios, such as Disney, DreamWorks, and Warner Brothers find great relief in the subject matter of classical myths. It seems we are reviving classical culture out of our sheer desperation to find a cultural common ground. Naturally, this is what our classical artistic heritage offers.
To read further, go to 3D Street Art
