Magic: The Science Of Illusion

People make sense of what they see and experience without much awareness of the complex interplay of the perceptual and interpretive processes that make these acts possible. Magicians have long understood the complexity of visual illusions, and have used this knowledge to create experiences that appear to defy natural laws. Using the engaging example of entertainment magic, the exhibit will help people understand the science and complexity of illusions.

The exhibit includes a theatre, 27 interactive exhibits, and put-yourself-in-the-picture experiences. Come catch Magic: The Science of Illusion at the Singapore Science Centre from October 2008 to February 2009!

Description
Traveling to Asia for the first time, “Magic: The Science of Illusion” explores basic science concepts used in a set of custom-made illusions and shows how these science concepts relate to our everyday lives. In the exhibit, visitors can learn how magicians use psychology, physics, math, engineering and the art of performance to create complex and visually stunning effects. While science seeks to explain the wonders of the world, magicians use some of the same forces and principles to mystify us and to do the impossible. In the exhibition, visitors can explore the science of illusions without losing the enchantment that a magic show creates. Visitors can explore the science and art of visual illusions from two perspectives: that of the audience and that of the magician’s apprentice. As the audience, visitors enter a “front stage” environment to experience the emotional impact of magical performances and to learn the history of each illusion. Each section features a video of a professional magician performing the illusion and a put-yourself-in-the-illusion opportunity for visitors.

Getting There
Jurong East MRT Station (EW24/NS1)

Exhibit highlights and details-

Magicians and Performances:

An introductory section orients the visitor. Through a sound, light and theatre presentation visitors meet their magician mentor who guides them through the exhibit as they explore the science of illusions.

Illusion of a disembodied head:

In this illusion, Penn & Teller weave a story of how Teller lost his head.

Illusion of transformation:

Exhibits in this area address the famous Light and Heavy Chest illusion created by the “father of modern magic”, Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin

Illusion of Mentalism:

Visitors are asked to pick a number or make a selection of an object and perform various mathematical calculations to get to a new number or object. Major Experiences: Put-yourself-in-illusion and have your mind read by magician Max Maven. A life-size video projection of Max will ask you to pick a symbol on a card, and guess which symbol you picked.

Illusion of levitation:

Exhibits in this section address the illusion of rising and floating off the ground. Visitors sit in a chair and amid light and sound effects rise slowly off the ground, apparently hanging in thin air!

Magician’s training academy:

At the Magician’s Training Academy, visitors learn and practice simple dose- up illusions, based on math and psychology principles.

The Abracadabra! Theatre

The exhibit includes a stage dedicated to magical performances. At the Abracadabra! Theatre visitors experience the impact of magic and explore the role of magic in our lives. A live magic performance involving museum visitors is offered. Along the queue leading into the theatre visitors can learn about the colourful history of magic through photos, posters and text.

Portable trunks for on site and off site educational programmes:

Through an ethnographic AV program, text and photo panels this section looks at times through an ethnographic A/V program, text and photo panels this section looks at times when we suspend our disbelief off-stage and use magical thinking in daily life.

Three Magician’s Trunks covers the topics of optics, simple mechanics, and math within the context of entertainment magic. Each trunk includes science demonstrations, costumes, props, and scripts that can be pulled out and assembled to work with a group of visitors, a visiting school or community group.

Update: Vogue and I have went for the event! Check out our review at:

Magic: The Science Of Illusion – The Review

Tags: academy, and, centre, close, illusions, learn, levitation, Magic, magicians, maven, max, metalism, of, penn, science, singapore, teller, the, training, transformation, tricks, up