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Concrete modular sculptures that create an optical illusion by David Umemoto

Not much is known about the Dutch printmaker MC Escher, but his familiar mind-bending artwork, Relativity, has been reproduced countless times in popular culture. You know the one. It inspired that famous scene in Jim Henson's Labyrinth, and who could forget David Bowie wandering through the optical illusion. This is what springs to mind when we consider the concrete modular sculptures of David Umemoto – featured previously.

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Brutalist concrete sculpture with geometric planes and vertical ridges creating an optical illusion of shifting perspectives and depth

A Canadian architect and sculptor, David's artistic approach is highly regulated, codified and rigorous. Each one of his creations seamlessly fits into a conceptual and constructive system that has been thoroughly elaborated. Interestingly, each work of art is decomposed into modular sections that can then be reorganised and reused to create new works.

As explained in his artist statement: "Every module of all the works can be interconnected physically or conceptually. Sometimes the creations take shape by spontaneous generation, and other times by transformational succession. By a series of dissections, transformations, repetitions, aggregations, they give birth to other works. In this organic process, each work although unique finds itself composed in whole or in part by elements of previous or subsequent works. Thus, the use of techniques for creating 'multiples', such as printmaking, casting or moulding, to create unique pieces is essential to his approach."

Via Behance | All images courtesy of David Umemoto

Concrete modular sculpture by David Umemoto featuring interlocking black and white geometric sections with stepped and angular forms creating an optical illusion
Abstract concrete sculpture with interlocking geometric sections featuring cutaway views of internal staircases and architectural elements
Modular concrete and white sculptural piece with geometric stepped forms and angled planes creating an optical illusion of impossible architecture
Two views of a concrete modular sculpture featuring interlocking geometric forms with staggered steps in black and white sections
Two concrete modular sculptures by David Umemoto with interlocking geometric forms in black, white and bronze, creating an optical illusion effect
Abstract concrete sculptural model with interlocking geometric forms in dark grey and white, featuring recessed openings and angular cutouts throughout its structure
Concrete modular sculpture by David Umemoto with interlocking geometric sections in grey and white, creating an optical illusion of interconnected spaces and passages
Abstract concrete sculptural form with dark and light grey geometric sections creating an optical illusion of impossible architecture and interlocking spaces
Four views of a concrete modular sculpture showing different rotations of interlocking geometric forms creating an optical illusion
Concrete modular sculpture by David Umemoto featuring dark and light grey sections with geometric cutouts and stepped edges creating an optical illusion
Abstract concrete modular sculpture by David Umemoto with interconnected geometric forms and stairs, designed to be reconfigured into different compositions
Monochromatic concrete modular sculpture by David Umemoto featuring stepped geometric forms in black and grey tones with a central rectangular void
Stacked concrete blocks in varying shades of grey and white arranged in a pyramid-like composition with interlocking geometric forms creating an optical illusion
Abstract concrete modular sculpture with interconnected geometric blocks, steps and planes in varying shades of grey and white, creating an optical illusion of impossible architecture
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