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Hyperrealism, known also as superrealism, goes beyond the traditionally understood framework of realistic art. Artists who create works in this trend not only imitate or figuratively reproduce reality, but more importantly, try to achieve an effect that makes their work more realistic than a real scene captured in a photograph.

The role of photography in hiperrealist art

Photography is a medium used by artists since it was invented, but the Hyperrealists began to treat it differently than their predecessors. Optical perception and technical applications of photography began to play a huge role. The replication of the visual information contained in the photograph, along with the application of technological advancements, made the works more meaningful and influential. 

Optical illusion

Hyperrealist paintings are largely characterized by an illusory quality that partially distances them from reality, creating a space with elements of the world imperceptible to the human eye. Focusing on details, such as shape, texture, and the play of light & shadow, creates an exaggerated composition, multiplying the effect of reality. The optical illusion also captures the uncertainty of the modern mechanized world and its metaphorical dimension, which can only be captured on canvas.

Themes of works

Hyperrealist works, both paintings and sculptures, are inspired by everyday life. Subjects include still life, landscapes and portraits that can resonate with social, cultural, and political situations. Hyperrealist works explore people's relationships with everyday objects and the relationship we have to one another. The depth of aesthetic artistry is, thus, combined with a detailed analysis of the relationship between mind and body, transcendence, and materiality.

Selected hyperrealist artists

Jacob A. Pfeiffer is a contemporary American artist who paints mainly still life, but also uses illusionist painting. In his works, reconstructed reality is full of objects that, removed from their natural contexts, acquire unobvious meanings. The painter is clearly inspired by Magritte, who created surrealistic compositions, in which the relations between objects are also full of psychological ambiguity. Unlike Pfeiffer, Canadian artist Sheryl Luxenburg devotes her attention to the female figure. The artist is concerned with the realistic depiction of women under the influence of intense emotions, such as fear or anger. Interestingly, Luxenburg's choice of subject matter is closely related to the field of psychotherapy in which she has worked. Another noteworthy artist is Denis Peterson, who treats the technique of hyperrealism as a tool to bring about social change. The painter, portraying people from the lowest social structures, comments grotesquely on classism and the tragic fate of many people that results from social inequality.

Added 2022-03-13 in Terms dictionary by Julia Wysocka

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