Artist Ray Bartkus wanted to incorporate Lithuania’s Šešupė River into a captivating work of art, so he intentionally painted his mural upside-down. While the designs of the mural may appear quite ordinary at first glance, the real magic happens when viewers first notice the display’s river reflection. When reflected in the river’s dark waters, the painted figures seem to come to life, interacting with the water itself.
Suddenly, swimmers, swans, and rowers seem to be sitting atop the water at the Marijampolė, Lithuania location. Even a pair of legs appear to peek out of the water, as though diver has just gone headfirst into the river. Meanwhile the ripples give the illusion of movement–the swans, boats, rowers seem to glide across the water’s surface. Clearly, all of this required an incredible amount of forethought on Bartkus’s part. His impressive execution can easily be seen in the photo above, which has been enhanced to show the true intention behind the painter’s intriguing artwork.
Ray Bartkus: Website
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