Title:

Magic Tricks - Black Art

Word Count:
458

Summary:
Black art is an old form of magic that is rarely used today. The effect black art
produces is as close to trick photography as you can get without a camera! This
article explains the methodology and some ideas behind black art.

Keywords:
black art, black, art, magic, illusion, wizadry

Article Body:
Black art is an old form of magic that is rarely used today in its original form.
The effect black art produces is fantastic, it is as close to trick photography as
you can get without a camera!

A magician practising black art will find a stage and dim the lights. While he and
his assistants are wearing white, the audience can see them. The performers then
command items to appear and move around. Versions of 'sawing a woman in half' are
performed and you can see the two halves moving round the stage, only to be melted
back together, or just vanish. The possibilities are endless, and all leave the
audience feeling mystified.

The theory behind black art is that everything in black won't be seen against a
black background. This means at the start of the performance, there can be many
items on the stage covered in a black cloth and they won't be seen. The magician
simply removes the cloth and voila, an item has appeared. Disembodied bodies can
move around by wearing black trousers, or a black jumper. Assistants dressed
completely in black can make objects, including people, fly around the stage.

This form of magic really allows the imagination to go wild. Many things are
possible with a bit of creativity and a pot of black paint! Black art is truly the
cleverest and easiest magic to perform.

Black art is often performed in silence as it is a mystical event to watch, however

do not be afraid to talk - your voice will be very powerful coming from the
darkness, heightening the illusion.

Although to you, the performer, nothing
whole performance will blow their minds
video of the performance so you can see
From your side of the stage, everything
assistants.
will seem like magic, to the audience, the
away. It is highly recommended to make a
the show from the other side of the stage.
is visible - you can see the props and

To improve the illusion, some artists have lights above, below and to the side of
the stage gently shining at the audience to further reduce the amount they can see.
In complete darkness, however, a very eerie performance can be achieved. Another
option is to use 'black-light' (i.e. UV light), which makes white and several other
colours come to life, leaving black in darkness.

To end the performance, the magician has many possibilities ranging from floating
off the stage, to gradually being engulfed by darkness (to do this, use a large
piece of black cloth that starts on the floor and is slowly lifted up by two
assistants to block you from view).
In a nutshell, your imagination and creativity is the only limit to this fine art.