Surface Ornamentation Techniques and Spatial Distortion

Several different types of surface-related ornamentation that are capable of distorting the perception of space have been developed and used since ancient times. Some examples of these are di sotto in sù, quadratura, trompe l’oeil and foreshortening. These techniques throw into question the limits of space and architecture and our understanding thereof. However, until now, there has been no clear classification or designation of these distortive techniques. Therefore, this article focuses on the identification and classification of three different ornamental techniques applied to surfaces that can distort the perception of space and looks to the work of various contemporary artists to exemplify the proposed taxonomy.