(Hanoi) Exhibition – “Optical Illusion” by Sugihara Kokichi
Opening: 02 pm, Sat 28 June 2025
Exhibition: 09 am – 06 pm, 28 June – 24 Aug 2025
Workshop: 03 pm, Sat 28 June 2025
Artist Talk: 10 am, Sun 29 June 2025
Japan Foundation
27 Quang Trung, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
Registration link
From the organizer:
When does perception become illusion? For the first time ever in Vietnam, from June 28 to August 24, 2025, in Hanoi, Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam is proud to present the exhibition “Optical Illusion”, an eye-opening journey into the surprising world of visual perception that changes how we see and understand reality. The exhibition will showcase 53 three-dimensional illusions by Professor Sugihara Kokichi—a four-time winner of the International Best Illusion of the Year Contest and a pioneer in in applied mathematics and spatial cognition.
Unlike traditional optical illusions confined to flat surfaces, these are real, tangible models designed with precise geometric calculations. A shape that appears circular from one angle might reveal interlinked squares from another. A fish placed beside a mirror reflects only a skeleton. Some designs, as small as 8 centimeters in size yet produce stunning visual effects that continue to puzzle the keenest eyes—even when observed up close. While we often assume that our eyes enable us to perceive reality most accurately, Professor Sugihara humorously challenges this belief by exploiting the “blind spots” in our visual system. His illusions give rise to seemingly impossible phenomena that provoke curiosity and philosophical reflection: How far does biological function allow human to perceive so-called reality? Beyond sheer wonder, his work also sparks scientific thought and reveals the profound beauty linking mathematics, art, and human perception.
Having exhibited in Japan and numerous countries worldwide, Professor Sugihara has been exploring these visual phenomena since the early 2000s. His creations have been featured on various Japanese television programs including NHK’s “DESIGN TALK plus” and the famous idol group Arashi’s “Arashi ni Shiyagare” where they received praise and acclamation from a wide range of audience. Besides, his works have also been presented in top science and art museums around the globe, among which the National Palace Museum in Taipei can be named.
This exhibition offers one-of-a-kind opportunity for Vietnamese audience to access a rarely seen style excelling in mathematic precision and artistic creativity, promising a unique, delightful, and inspiring experience for visitors of all ages.
Sugihara Kokichi earned his Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1973. He went on to work at various institutions, including the Electrotechnical Laboratory, Nagoya University, and the University of Tokyo, before joining Meiji University in 2009. Since April 2019, he has held the position of Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the Meiji Institute for Advanced Study of Mathematical Sciences. His field of expertise is Mathematical Engineering. While researching the development of robotic vision, he discovered methods to transform visual illusions into physical models and expanded his work into the field of three-dimensional optical illusions. He has created numerous seemingly impossible structures and continues to be active as an Opt Art model artist. A four-time winner and two-time runner-up of the International Best Illusion of the Year Contest, his illusionary artworks have been exhibited at numerous science centers and museums, including a notable special exhibition at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, which ran for one year and eight months from September 2018 to May 2020.
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