Hyperrealism

Hyperrealism

Hyperrealism is a style in painting and sculpture that mimics the detailed appearance of a high-resolution photograph.

Hyperrealism refers to artworks that appear incredibly lifelike, often fooling the viewer. This effect is known as "trompe l'oeil," a French term meaning "deceive the eye." The desire for intense realism in Western art dates back to ancient Greece. However, with the rise of abstract painting in the 20th century, this aspiration became less cutting-edge.

In contrast, the late 1960s and '70s saw the emergence of highly realistic paintings based on photographs, known as Photorealism. In contemporary art, there's a trend towards sculptures that aim to precisely replicate or recreate objects.


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Parra's studio, with Parra at the centre, his back to the camera as he works on the large painting takes centre stage, showing a faceless blue woman in a striped dress, painted in red, purple, blue and teal. The studio is full of brightly coloured paints, with a large window on the right and a patterned rug across the floor under the painting.