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Australia’s Infinite Stairway to Heaven


Diminish and Ascend is a sculptural installation by artist David McCracken that, from certain angles, looks like a never-ending staircase. Part of the annual event known as Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi, Australia, the staircase is one of the most eye-catching pieces at the outdoor exhibition this year that allows the mind to wander and imagine a surreal escape. Though it appears to be a long climb to the top that goes beyond the Earth's atmosphere, it is nothing more than an optical illusion.

McCracken's expertly crafted sculpture plays with perspectives, taking into account the visual effects associated with simulating distance. By constructing a modified replica of a staircase that decreases in size as it nears its highest and furthest point from eye-level, it gives off the illusion of an infinite stairway to heaven as the aluminum steps ascend into the clouds without an end in sight.

Top photo: Leighton Wallis


Brett Bayliss


Matthew Perkins


Leighton Wallis


Michael Blair


Paul David


goranhas


William Patino


Andy Chan

via [Colossal]

Pinar

Pinar Noorata is the Managing Editor at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, NY. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College and is an alumni of the Center for Arts Education’s Career Development Program in NYC. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching movies, reading, crafting, drawing, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
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