Optical Illusion Sculpture

July 5, 2005 10:29 AM

Turn Your Head is an online service that echoes the famous "two faces/chalice" optical illusion, but in the real world. You provide them with shots of your profile, and they carve a wooden sculpture of the image for only $149.95. Works best for those with uniquely pronounced features, not to mention those with $149.95 to waste on useless crap.
posted by jonson (21 comments total)

Reminds me of this stuff I found at the Freemont Solstice. He also offered his services as a wood-working photoshop plugin. =p
posted by nomisxid at 11:00 AM on July 5, 2005

It's possible to manually derive a 3D mask of someone's face from a frontal and side view, and then route that data through an automated wood carver. Seems to me that's what's happening here.
posted by effugas at 11:33 AM on July 5, 2005

Wouldn't even need a frontal view or 3D mask derivative... just a tracing of the profile and a programmable lathe will do nicely.
posted by ChasFile at 11:40 AM on July 5, 2005

Seems to me that a guy with a chisel and a lathe takes your profile photo and cuts it into hardwood. (It says "hand crafted".)Anyway, turnyourhead.com the best possible domain name for this!
posted by nicwolff at 11:41 AM on July 5, 2005

I could see the possible allure of an actual personalized chalice, but a simple cylinder of wood chucked into a lathe and machined for no other purpose is unappealing and rather trite.
posted by prostyle at 11:50 AM on July 5, 2005

I love the "right & wrong" illustrations for how to snap a photo of your profile, which, for whatever reason, is located at a different URL.
posted by jonson at 11:51 AM on July 5, 2005

I think it's a very cool and unique remembrance of a loved one.
posted by wsg at 1:19 PM on July 5, 2005

I'm one foot in prostyle's camp. I do wish this was a actual functioning chalice as opposed to a bookend.

I think "unappealing and rather trite" might be a bit heavy handed though.
posted by Ynoxas at 1:51 PM on July 5, 2005

TOM IS FASCINATED BY THE OPTICAL ILLUSION, WHETHER IT BE M.C. ESTHER OR SALVIDOR DALI'S SURREAL ART.

In fact, he's such a big fan that he can't quite get their names down right.
posted by mendel at 1:58 PM on July 5, 2005

Ah yes, I'll never forget my dear Aunt M.C. Esther and her infinite brownies.
posted by CrunchyGods at 2:43 PM on July 5, 2005

(Is that first link showing up with nothing but a background image for anyone else?)
posted by me3dia at 2:54 PM on July 5, 2005

(Nevermind. Just a ridiculously slow animation.)
posted by me3dia at 2:57 PM on July 5, 2005

Actually, I've seen this done as a serious work of art (even if we may now find the subject matter questionable). Italian sculptor Renato Bertelli designed in 1933 what he called his "Continuous Profile of Il Duce," or a 360 degree sculpture of the profile of Mussolini.
posted by Misciel at 3:17 PM on July 5, 2005

It would be better if it was an actual receptacle. One would make an excellent funerary urn with the profile of the inhabitant.
posted by wsg at 3:32 PM on July 5, 2005

WSG: I never would have thought of referring to the cremated remains in an urn as an "inhabitant." But now I will.
posted by brundlefly at 3:36 PM on July 5, 2005

Opening page nearly kiboshes any interest in their product. Artsy splash pages are just irritating.

But it is a cool product and I would dig one. It would be cool to get one for a pal who's recently broken their nose as a memento. Or for someone who's about to get a nosejob so they could have something to compare against.

I will still forward the URL (to the index page, not that stupid crap slow-mo splash page) to a friend who collects wood turned bowls and other neato stuff made from wood. But I will also drop a note to the people and let them know their website inhibits interest and commerce.
posted by fenriq at 3:43 PM on July 5, 2005

Ok, so "inhabitant" prolly isn't the best word. ;)
posted by wsg at 4:39 PM on July 5, 2005

No, no, no! I love it!
posted by brundlefly at 4:51 PM on July 5, 2005

One would make an excellent funerary urn with the profile of the inhabitant.
Wouldn't a plastic bag work better for that?
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 4:54 PM on July 5, 2005

CrunchyGods -- that was hilarious.
posted by Kloryne at 6:23 PM on July 5, 2005

Here's the response to my email which let them know the interface was in need of some repair and the FAQ was all but useless and a question about the pirolette itself.:

Sorry you had trouble with the site we are trying to fix some of the problems asap.
The pirolette is solid wood. It weighs about 5 pounds.
Thankyou for your interest,

Tom Beshara ,CEO
Turn Your Head Inc.
posted by fenriq at 10:55 AM on July 6, 2005