Concrete Illusion

Concrete Illusion (Color) / Concrete Illusion (Black & White)

Photography, Resin and Acrylic on Wood, 2023 (16x20)

This series explores the shifting perceptions and fractured realities that define the New York City skyline. Captured from the top of the Summit One Vanderbilt above Grand Central Terminal, the images invite the viewer into a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the lines between reality and illusion blur.

At first glance, the cityscape appears familiar, a portrait of New York in all its urban grandeur. Yet, as you look closer, the altered reality becomes apparent—buildings tilt and collide, their shapes contorting in surreal ways that challenge the notion of perspective. The city, once grounded in its concrete foundation, seems suspended in a delicate balance between chaos and order.

In the color version, the vibrancy of the city contrasts with the distorted imagery, amplifying the tension between the real and imagined. In the black-and-white version, the absence of color creates an intensified focus on the shapes and forms, evoking a more dreamlike, otherworldly atmosphere.

These works reflect the idea of the city as both a physical and metaphorical space—a "concrete illusion" where possibilities seem endless, and the boundaries between grandiose dreams and harsh reality are constantly shifting. Through the dual perspectives, the series captures New York as a living, breathing entity, caught between its concrete reality and the illusions we project upon it.