Archive note: This text comes from the older archive of Nomika Epilekta and is preserved with editorial care for historical and informative reading.

Street art, or street art as it is usually called, began in the United States of America with an artist named Sidewalk Sam, who started painting on the streets of Boston in 1972. Influenced by these works, the American artist Kurt Wenner travelled to Europe, spreading this original form of art. Today this art is called 3D street art (3D street painting, 3D pavement art, 3D chalk art, 3D sidewalk art, 3D illusion).

These are two-dimensional works of art that create the visual illusion of the third dimension from a specific perspective. The three-dimensional form of street art is a kind of interactive art. Three-dimensional works may be highly impressive on their own, but through interaction with the passer-by they can become even more interesting. They are realistic, entertaining, exciting, unexpected and especially clever.

3D street art is gaining ground today. Many large companies already use the popularity of three-dimensional works to promote their products.

Some of the most impressive three-dimensional works of street art follow:

Balancing on ice, a work by the famous street painter Edgar Mueller. The painter transforms a huge pier into a dramatic Ice Age scene. The work was created in Ireland in 2008 for the Festival of World Cultures. The image can be seen from one perspective, and Mueller needed five days, together with five assistants, to complete the work. (See the corresponding video.)

River descent. The English artist Julian Beever depicts a river descent in Charleston, West Virginia.

In 2007, the artist Kurt Wenner, pictured on the left, completed his work at Waterloo station in London.

September 2011. A three-dimensional representation of the royal wedding, as part of an England tourism campaign, in Sydney, Australia.

A three-dimensional work of art in China. Almost an entire street was transformed into a burning river by Edgar Mueller.

A landslide in the middle of the road.

Three-dimensional depictions on building facades.

Impressive three-dimensional depictions on pedestrian streets and in shopping centres.

For more 3D depictions, follow the links below:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2011/nov/17/3d-street-art-in-pictures

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/absolutely-stunning-3d-street-art-paintings/

http://www.streetartutopia.com/?p=881

http://zazenlife.com/2012/04/17/amazing-3d-street-art/

http://www.zimbio.com/Edgar+Mueller/articles/AnZS097-r2A/Wonderful+3D+Street+Delusions

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/interactive-street-art-best

Marina Avgerinou

Conservator of antiquities and works of art