Impossible Games
The Penrose Triangle
Inspired by an editorial request, I created this series centered on iconic board games. Monopoly was my first choice, both for its nostalgic value and its reputation for games that seem to last forever. I wanted to capture that "infinite" quality visually.
To do this, I set out to create the Penrose Triangle—a famous "impossible object" illusion—using a Monopoly board. My goal was to achieve the entire effect in-camera. I began with a primary sketch in C4D to understand the geometry, then moved into the studio to prototype the shape using cardstock, styrene, and foam board.
Because this is a perspective-based illusion, the camera and lens had to remain in a fixed position throughout the build. I had to constantly adjust the physical structure to account for the specific distortion of the lens. It was a meticulous process, but as I grew more familiar with how the lens optics affected the geometry, I was able to factor those variables into the final build.
The final key to the illusion was the most satisfying: I took precise measurements of the finished structure, adapted the Monopoly board vector art, and printed a "distorted" version of the artwork that appeared perfectly aligned only when viewed through the camera.
Check out the project here.
