Activity: Escher Exhibition (4 ESO)

Mathematics and History Departments

Before visiting Escher Exhibition:

Impossible Constructions
Impossible Constructions are two-dimensional shapes whose equivalent three-dimensional constructions are impossible. This means we can draw these impossible constructions on a sheet of paper but we cant build a threedimensional model of them. How can such a disturbing event like that happen? Explaining this strange event involves to think of perspective rules. Twodimensional impossible constructions are possible because when we draw them we break some of the perspective rules. For instance: Parallel line segments in 3D world are also parallel in their 2D representations, and the other way round. Every 2D representation of the 3D world is made using the same type of coordinate trihedral.

Activity 1: How could you interpret this coordinate trihedral? How many possibilities can you see? Maybe if you look carefully at the following picture you will realize the different points of view. To represent a trihedral in 2D is always ambiguous.

Juan Muoz, Wasteland. 1986 IES Albayzn (Granada)

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Activity: Escher Exhibition (4 ESO)

Mathematics and History Departments

Activity 2:
The following chart contains several 2D representations. Some of them are possible constructions in a 3D world, others are not. Could you identify or classify the possible and impossible constructions? Could you explain your answer according to the perspective rules explained above?

IES Albayzn (Granada)

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Activity: Escher Exhibition (4 ESO)

Mathematics and History Departments

Activity 3: His fantastical structures, which couldnt possibly exist in the real
world, are optical illusions that play with perspective.
Could you recognize any of the critiria explained above to create impossible constructions in these Eschers artworks?

IES Albayzn (Granada)

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