This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
Marlin Peterson's spectacular trompe l'oeil of two opiliones (commonly known as daddy long legs) atop Seattle's Armory is bound to give arachnophobes a run for their money. Trompe l'oeil (literally "trick the eye") is a classic mural technique that is used to create the illusion of a three-dimensional object on a flat surface. Because of the tricks of perspective involved, it usually works best from one specific angle - in this case, the observation deck of the Seattle Space Needle. In general, I dream of a time when we can look at our cities from above and see a patchwork of green roofs and garden spaces bringing plants' mitigating effects to our harshest man-made spaces. Until then, I'll settle for mind-blowing art that reminds us of what our cities' roofscapes might harbor looking forward.
Read up on the mural's progress from sketch to finished piece
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
--
Every day in September, we’re bringing you new science-art of the day. How would these images be useful for science communication? STEM education? Enticing people to learn more about science? Do they inspire you or frustrate you? Let us know below!