Impossible Triangle

3D Model

The Impossible Triangle, or Penrose Tribar, is a well-known impossible object. It was first created by the Swedish artist Oscar Reutersvärd in 1934.

It appeared in a published article of British Psychology Magazine in 1954 credited to Roger Penrose and his father Lionel Penrose. Later, M.C. Escher received a letter from Reutersvärd lending Escher the idea. He used the triangle in some of his most fascinating lithographs, such as “Waterfall, “Ascending and Descending” and “Belvedere” thus giving the paradox a worldwide audience and admiration.

This design is my extremely sculpted version of the famous Penrose tribar illusion made real. This impossible object is surprisingly thin when viewed from the side or top, yet appears to have full depth and the famous paradox when viewed from the front. The illusion works from anywhere in front, not just from one point as with many impossible objects once translated into 3D. This is my own unique implementation of the illusion.