Moona Lisa
In 1997, I undertook a creative reinterpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's iconic masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, by remixing it into 142 color beads meticulously placed at the intersections of an imaginary two-dimensional triangular network. Up close, the arrangement of beads may seem nonsensical, but when viewed from a distance, you will perceive (or perhaps 'guess'?) the portrait of Mona Lisa.
Hidden Mona Lisa (1997), © Gianni A. Sarcone
In 2021, I decided to revamp my Op Art creation by replacing the beads with a palette of naturally colored Moons, which are captured through the atmospheric scattering phenomenon by Italian astrophotographer Marcella Giulia Pace.
Moona Lisa (2021), © Gianni A. Sarcone & Marcella Giulia Pace. Buy prints and posters from my online gallery.
Buy prints and posters from my online gallery.
The visual effect of this pixelated illusion bears some resemblance to the optical artwork titled "Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea Which at Twenty Meters Becomes the Portrait of Abraham Lincoln," painted by Salvador Dalí in 1976.
On October 16th, 2001, during the International Observe the Moon Night, "Moona Lisa" was selected as the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) by NASA. You can also find interesting explanations about this Op Art on Youtube.
My Op Art creation combines science, art, observation, perception, illusion, and ingenuity, making it a fitting tribute to Leonardo da Vinci. It also serves to demonstrate the remarkable ability of our brains to recognize faces, even when they are obscured in various ways. Additionally, it showcases the brain's capacity to discern fine details in specific situations while perceiving broader details in others.
Prints and posters of my artwork are available for purchase on my online gallery.
