The two penetrating plates align horizontally at the left but vertically at the right, giving the impression of an impossible object.
Conflict between Horizontal and Vertical —
The two penetrating plates align horizontally at the left but vertically at the right, giving the impression of an impossible object.
Kokichi Sugihara
The top view reveals the mystery: the illusion only works when viewing the object from a certain angle.
Conflict between Horizontal and Vertical —
The top view reveals the mystery: the illusion only works when viewing the object from a certain angle.
Kokichi Sugihara
In this illusion from 2015, the ambiguous roof of the garage looks like a dome from the front, but has a wavy shape in the reflection.
Round Roof and Triple Triangular Roof —
In this illusion from 2015, the ambiguous roof of the garage looks like a dome from the front, but has a wavy shape in the reflection.
Kokichi Sugihara
The roof is actually wavy, but from the right perspective, and without any other visual trickery, it appears to have a mountain shape.
Round Roof and Triple Triangular Roof —
The roof is actually wavy, but from the right perspective, and without any other visual trickery, it appears to have a mountain shape.
Kokichi Sugihara
Sugihara has built a physical version of the Penrose stairs, an impossible object made famous by Dutch artist M.C. Escher.
Endless Loop of Stairs —
Sugihara has built a physical version of the Penrose stairs, an impossible object made famous by Dutch artist M.C. Escher.
Kokichi Sugihara
This view shows the true shape of the object.
Endless Loop of Stairs —
This view shows the true shape of the object.
Kokichi Sugihara
The structure seems impossible, as the upper connecting segments should logically be in front of the central pillar.
Funny Fence —
The structure seems impossible, as the upper connecting segments should logically be in front of the central pillar.
Kokichi Sugihara
A change in perspective shows how the model is constructed.
Funny Fence —
A change in perspective shows how the model is constructed.
Kokichi Sugihara
The staircase appears to completely switch orientation in the reflection.
Reversing Staircase —
The staircase appears to completely switch orientation in the reflection.
Kokichi Sugihara
A view from another angle shows the extreme geometry required to achieve the illusion.
Reversing Staircase —
A view from another angle shows the extreme geometry required to achieve the illusion.
Kokichi Sugihara
Four diamonds or four suits?
Playful Suit —
Four diamonds or four suits?
Kokichi Sugihara
A side view shows the edges of the object, which help achieve the visual effect.
Playful Suit —
A side view shows the edges of the object, which help achieve the visual effect.
Kokichi Sugihara
Where is the stick going through exactly?
Distorted Space with Four Windows —
Where is the stick going through exactly?
Kokichi Sugihara
This perspective shows the object looks very different from above.
Distorted Space with Four Windows —
This perspective shows the object looks very different from above.
Kokichi Sugihara
The perspective makes this flower appear rounded, although the reflection shows jagged edges.
Eight-Petal Flower —
The perspective makes this flower appear rounded, although the reflection shows jagged edges.
Kokichi Sugihara
Kokichi Sugihara with one of his illusions in Tokyo, in 2015.
Kokichi Sugihara —
Kokichi Sugihara with one of his illusions in Tokyo, in 2015.
YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/AFP/Getty Images