Gianni A. Sarcone
Sarcone (born March 20, 1962) is a visual artist and author who collaborates with educational publications, writing articles and columns on topics related to art, science, and mathematics education. He has contributed to several science magazines, including Focus Junior[1] (Italy), Query-CICAP (Italy), Rivista Magia (Italy), Alice & Bob / Bocconi University (Italy), Brain Games (USA), and Tangente[2] (France). Sarcone has over 30 years of experience as a designer and researcher in the areas of visual creativity, recreational mathematics and educational games.
Also recorded as Gianni Sarcone · Giovanni Sarcone
Gianni A. Sarcone
Ruotailfoglio · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Gianni A.
- Born
- 20 March 1962
- Birthplace
- Vevey, Switzerland
- Known for
- Op art, optical illusions, visual creativity, and recreational mathematics
- Occupation
- Visual artist and writer
- Nationality
- Italy
- Honours
- Royal Society Science Books Prize
- Languages
- French · English · Italian
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Gianni A. Sarcone. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q3105247 · wikipedia · Gianni A. Sarcone
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
The documentary record
Statements marked “Documentary record” are set in the article beside the passage they confirm. Each is read from the authority records of the institutions named here; select “Prove” to see the record it was read from, where in that record, and when.
Institutions cited
Bibliothèque nationale de France · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Complete reading chain (JSON)In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Gianni A. Sarcone • Born — 20 March 1962 • Birthplace — Vevey, Switzerland • Known for — Op art, optical illusions, visual creativity, and recreational mathematics • Occupation — Visual artist and writer • Website — http: www.giannisarcone.com/
Documentary record
Gianni A. Sarcone (born 20 March 1962) is described as a journalist and designer in the authority records of the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek. The birth of Gianni A. Sarcone is recorded on 20 March 1962 in Vevey.
Educational project
Educational project
G. Sarcone has authored and published numerous educational textbooks and illustrated books[18] in English, French and Italian on brain training and the mechanism of vision. He is the founder of Archimedes-lab.org[19] a consulting network of experts specializing in improving and enhancing creativity - for which he has been commended with a long list of accolades and awards, including the 2003 Scientific American Sci/Tech Web Award[20] in Mathematics and received recognition[21] in the US from: CNN Headline News, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and NewScientist.com.[22]
Notable inventions
Notable inventions
• Illustration — Sarcone's Puzzle (also known as Puzzle Quirinus or the Quadrix Puzzle), invented by Gianni Sarcone. A geometrically paradoxical puzzle made of 12 pieces. Sarcone has developed a number of visual puzzles, games, and conceptual objects that combine elements of geometry, color, perception, and philosophical reflection, often grounded in mathematical principles. • Quirinus – The Amazing Paradoxical Puzzle (1992) – A 16-piece geometric puzzle from the *Quadrix* series that presents a vanishing-area paradox: an additional square appears to fit within a completed shape without altering its perceived dimensions.[23] • TangraMagic Puzzle – A reimagined ten-piece tangram that introduces L-shaped elements and a small square to produce an optical illusion of area disappearance. The puzzle includes a 20-page illustrated booklet designed for educational and recreational use.[24] • Trama – A two-player abstract strategy game designed in the early 1990s. Played on a triangular board with black, white, and neutral gray pieces, the game introduces a shared neutral component that adds a layer of tactical depth.[25] • Architempo – The Hological Watch[27] – A conceptual watch using a two-color pattern to visually represent the passage of time in an hourglass-like display. Conceived in the late 1980s, the design explores alternative ways of perceiving time through graphical interaction.[26]
Media and broadcasting
Media and broadcasting
Some of Sarcone's artworks such as The Other Face of Paris[28] or Flashing Star[29] have gone viral on the Internet. His works were also presented in several national and international television programs, including 'Rai 3' Italy, 'RTL 9 Channel' France, 'TSR 1 Channel' Switzerland, and in the following TV series: • ‘Nippon Television Network’ / NTV (Japan): "Fukashigi"; Japanese: 不可思議探偵団 (2012). • ‘National Geographic Television’[30] (US): "Brain Games Science" (2014). • ‘Beyond Production’ PTY LTD (Australia): "Wild But True" – Season 1 (2014). • "Masahiro Nakai’s Useful Library";[31] Japanese: 中居正広の身になる図書館, a widely followed Japanese TV program (June, 2015).
Selected works
Selected works
• Illustration — Gianni Sarcone, 1998, The Other Face of Paris (aka The Eiffel Girl), photograph, 66 x 91 cm, Private collection, Paris (France). • Illustration — Gianni Sarcone, 2001, Master of Numbers, mixed media / collage, 76 x 76 cm, Museum of Illusions, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). • Illustration — Gianni Sarcone, 2003, Hold on Tight, mixed media, 76 x 76 cm, Museum of Illusions, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). • Illustration — Gianni Sarcone, 1997, Hypnotic Vibes, mixed media, 70 x 70 cm, Museum of Illusions, Ljubljana (Slovenia). • Illustration — Gianni Sarcone, 2011, Apparition, mixed media, 122 x 122 cm, Museum of Illusions, Ljubljana (Slovenia). • Illustration — Gianni Sarcone, 2013, Mystic Bat (aka Mystic Flying Bat), mixed media, 122 x 122 cm, Private collection, Florence (Italy). • Illustration — Gianni Sarcone, 1997–2021, Moona Lisa. A mosaic of lunar images that forms the iconic portrait of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa when viewed from a distance.
Personal life
Personal life
Sarcone has practiced and continues to practice various Martial arts and Combat sports, including Yoseikan budō, Kickboxing, Jujutsu), and holds a black belt in Taekwondo.[32]
Identity
Identity
What the record establishes about Gianni A. Sarcone is recorded with the occupation visual artist. Sarcone is recorded as writer, inventor, mathematician, artist and journalist.
Gianni Sarcone's Lens Art, 1998, The Other Face of Paris, photograph, 66 x 91 cm. Surreal
Ruotailfoglio
Gianni Sarcone's Op Art, 2003, Hold on Tight, mixed media, 76 x 76 cm. Autokinetic
Ruotailfoglio
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1962
Gianni A. Sarcone was born on 20 March 1962.
Recent published works (2014-20)
Recent published works (2014-20)
G. Sarcone is the author (and co-author) of the following books: • Fantastic Optical Illusions: More Than 150 Deceptive Images and Visual Tricks, Carlton, UK, 2020,. • Ultimate Eye Twisters, Carlton, UK, 2019,. • Amazing Optical Illusions, Carlton, UK, 2018,. • Optical Illusions, QED Publishing, UK, 2017,. • You Can't Possibly Color This!, Moondance Press, US, 2017,. • How to draw incredible optical illusions, Imagine Publishing, US, 2015,. • Xtreme Illusions 2, National Geographic Kids, US, 2015, • Super Optical Illusions, Carlton Kids, UK, 2014, • Hidden Picture Puzzles, Imagine Publishing, US, 2014, • Optical Illusions: An Eye-Popping Extravaganza of Visual Tricks, Dover Publications, US, 2014, • Impossible Colouring Book: Can You Colour These Amazing Visual Illusions?, Arcturus Publishing, UK, 2014, • Make Your Own 3D Illusions - 3D illusions pack: All You Need to Build 50 Great Illusions, Carlton Books, UK, 2014, • Impossible Folding Puzzles and Other Mathematical Paradoxes, Dover Publications, US, 2014,
Non-fiction books in other languages
Non-fiction books in other languages
• Optische Rätsel, Bassermann Verlag, Germany, 2026, • Verbluffende optische puzzels, Deltas, Belgium, 2025, • Fascinantes illusions d’optique, Chantecler, Belgium, 2025, • Оптични илюзии, Publisher Фют, Bulgaria, 2024, • Les millors il·lusions òptiques, Editorial Brúixola, Spain, 2020, • Las mejores ilusiones ópticas, Editorial Bruño, Spain, 2020, • Фантастические оптические иллюзии, KoLibri, Russian Federation, 2020, • Optične iluzije, Tehniška Založba Slovenije D.d., Slovenia, 2019, • Ilusões Óticas, Booksmile, Portugal, 2019, • Varázslatos optikai csalódások, Ventus Libro Kiadó, Hungary, 2019, • Optische illusies, Lantaarn Publishers, Netherlands, 2019, • Ilusões de ótica, Quarto (Nobel), Brazil, 2018, • Optische Illusionen, Ars Edition, Germany, 2018, • Illusions d’optique, Fleurus, France, 2018, • 錯視の魔術, Kyouikugageki, Japan, 2018, • Optiska illusioner, Ordalaget, Sweden, 2018, • Illusioni ottiche, Armenia, Italy, 2018, • Vertigo: 50 Schwindelerregende Optische Illusionen, Moses Verlag, Germany, 2016, • Optische Täuschungen XXL, Ars Edition, Germany, 2016, • 謎解き錯視 傑作135選 (135 Mysterious Optic Artworks to Solve), Sogen-Sha, Japan, 2015, • Libro para colorear figuras imposibles, Editorial HISPANO EUROPEA, Spain, 2014, • 3D Optiset Harhat, Readme.fi, Finland, 2014, • Incroyables Illusions d’Optique, Ça m’intéresse, France, 2014, • 50 Illusions d’Optique 3D, Editions Ça m’intéresse, France, 2014, • Illusions - Coloriage Créatif, Editions Bravo, Canada, 2014, • 图中奥秘: 挑战脑力的错视图 (Amazing Visual Illusions), Qingdao Shi, China, 2013, • 图有玄机: 挑战眼力的错视图 (The World of Visual Illusions), Qingdao Shi, China, 2013, • Le Cabinet des Illusions d’Optique: 100 Illusions Stupéfiantes, Editions Fleurus, France, 2013, • Удивительные оптические иллюзии (Amazing Visual Illusions), Art-Rodnik, Russian Federation, 2013, • Рисуем оптические иллюзии (Drawing Optical Illusions), Art-Rodnik, Russian Federation, 2013, • Kiehtovat Optiset Harhat, Kustannusosakeyhtiö Nemo, Finland, 2013, • Optische Illusionen, Ars Edition, Germany, 2013, • Pliages, découpages et magie, Editions Pole, France, 2012, • De wonderlijke wereld van de optische illusies, Deltas Centrale uitgeverij, The Netherlands, 2012, • Unglaubliche Optische Illusionen, Verlag an der Este, Germany, 2012, Artikel-Nr.: 019435 • Spectaculaire Optische Illusies, Uitgeverij Atrium, The Netherlands, 2011, • L’étrange univers des illusions d’optique, Editions Fleurus, France, 2011, • Ilusiones Opticas, Circulo de Lectores Barcelona, Spain, 2010, • Fantasticas ilusiones opticas, Editorial Libsa Sa, Spain, 2010, • Optische Täuschungen, Bassermann F., Germany, 2009, • Fantastische Optische Illusionen, Tosa Verlagsgesellschaft, Germany, 2008, • FantaLogica, Edizioni La Meridiana, Italy, 2009, • Neue Optische Illusionen, Weltbild, Germany, 2008, • 阿基米德视幻觉游戏 (Archimedes' Visual Illusion Games), China Friendship Publishing Company, China, 2007, • 视幻觉 (Optical illusions), China Friendship Publishing Company, China, 2007, • Optische Illusionen, Weltbild, Germany, 2006, • Niewe Optische Illusies, BZZTOH, The Netherlands, 2006, • Nouvelles Illusions d’Optique, France Loisirs, France, 2006, • MateMagica, Edizioni La Meridiana, Italy, 2005, • L’Almanach du Mathématicien en herbe, Editions Archimède, France, 2002, • La Couleur dans tous ses états, Editions Yva Peyret, France, 1995,
Visual research
• Illustration — Here are two relative size illusions described by Italian visual researcher Gianni A. Sarcone in 1997 and 2013. The first relative-size illusion called Sarcone's Crosses contradicts Ebbinghaus illusion (aka Titchener Circles, 1898) and Obonai square illusion (1954). Sarcone's cross illusion consists of a cross (the test shape) surrounded by sets of squares of distinct size (the inducing shapes). As shown in the diagram, the three blue crosses in fig. 1.a, 1.b and 1.c are exactly the same size; the one on the left (fig. 1.a), however, appears larger. The illusion works even when the small squares completely occlude the blue cross (see fig. 1.c). In conclusion, there isn't always correlation between the size of the surrounding shapes and the relative size perception of the test shape. In fig. 2.a and 2.b, by effect of assimilation, the diagonal red line within the large ellipse seems subjectively longer, but in fact the blue line is objectively the longest of both lines.[3] Considered a leading authority on visual perception by academic institutions, Sarcone was invited to serve as a juror[4] at the Third Annual "Best Illusion of the Year Contest" held in Sarasota, Florida (USA). His optical illusion projects 'Mask of Love'[5] and 'Autokinetic Illusion' were named among the top 10 best optical illusions in the 2011 and 2014 "Best Illusion of the Year Contests", respectively.[6] In 2017, he placed third in the contest for his ‘Dynamic Müller-Lyer Illusion’.[7] Amongst other notable projects, he created and designed an “hypnoptical”[8] visual illusion that was used in the logo and institutional signage of the 2014 Grec Festival of Barcelona,[9] a significant cultural event featuring avant-garde musical, dance, and theater performances. His joint work, “Moona Lisa”, a mosaic of lunar images that, when viewed from a distance, forms the iconic portrait of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, was featured as NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) twice: on October 16, 2021,[10] and again on September 14, 2024,[11] in celebration of International Observe the Moon Night. Since May 16, 2022, in honor of the International Day of Light established by UNESCO, the University of Florence (UniFi) has permanently hosted Sarcone's optical art works in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in Sesto Fiorentino. This exhibition, titled “Enlightening Mind”,[12] is freely accessible and organized by the Degree Course in Optics and Optometry.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q3105247: Gianni A. Sarcone
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
- “Gianni A. Sarcone”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority file
- VIAF cluster 41964967 for Gianni A. Sarcone, aggregating national library name authorities.
General reference · OCLC
Honors and awards
• Award — Organization — Year — Result • Best Illusion of the Year 2011 — Best Illusion of the Year Contest — 2011 — Top Ten Finalist[13] • Best Illusion of the Year 2014 — Best Illusion of the Year Contest — 2014 — Top Ten Finalist[14] • Best Illusion of the Year 2017 — Best Illusion of the Year Contest — 2017 — Won[15] • Royal Society Young People's Book Prize 2018 — Royal Society Prizes for Science Books — 2018 — Won[16] • Best Illusion of the Year 2019 — Best Illusion of the Year Contest — 2019 — Top Ten Finalist[17]
Related links
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Gianni A. Sarcone, revision 1374911190 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Il Club della Magia, Sarcone’s column in Focus Junior magazine (June 2014).
- 2.Illusions et trucages, Sarcone’s column in Tangente magazine (June 2013).
- 3.Sarcone & Waeber, Dazzling Optical Illusion. Sterling Publishing, 2002, p. 38.
- 4.Previous Judges of Best Visual Illusion of the Year Contest.
- 5.Mask of Love, nominated top 10 Best Illusions of the Year 2011.
- 6.Autokinetic Illusion, nominated top 10 Best Illusions of the Year 2014.
- 7.Müller-Lyer Illusion, won the third place in the Best Illusions of the Year Contest 2017.
- 8."Hypnoptical" is a portmanteau word invented in 1999 by G. Sarcone that blends the words ‘hypnotical’ and ‘optical’ together.
- 9.Grec Festival 2014, presentation of the logo with the optical effect created by G. Sarcone.
- 10.APOD: 2021 October 16 - The Moona Lisa.
- 11.APOD: 2024 September 14 - The Moona Lisa selected again.
- 12.Enlightening Mind - An exhibition at the University of Florence dedicated to optical illusions.
- 13.Best Illusion of the Year Contest 2011. Mask of Love.
- 14.Best Illusion of the Year Contest 2014. Autokinetic Illusion.
- 15.Best Illusion of the Year Contest 2017. Dynamic Müller-Lyer Illusion.
- 16.Royal Society Young People's Book Prize 2018. Optical illusions book.
- 17.Best Illusion of the Year Contest 2019. Magic Tic-Tac-Toe.
- 18.Sarcone’s partial bibliography, in WorldCat catalog.
- 19.Archimedes’ Laboratory, is part Open Education Consortium.
- 20.2003 Sci/Tech Award, for the communication of mathematics to the general public.
- 21.Accolades and awards that Archimedes Laboratory has received.
- 22.“Short Sharp Science”, New Scientist, Best illusions: Masked face conceals a kiss (May 2011).
- 23.Quirinus, the paradoxical square puzzle.
- 24.TangraMagic, a tangram with a magic touch.
- 25.Trama, when neutrality is a strategy.
- 26.Architempo, the hological watch.
- 27.Architempo, European patent.
- 28.Viral Sarcone’s Other Face of Paris.
- 29.Viral Sarcone’s Flashing Star.
- 30.Sarcone’s illusion Hypnotic Vibes, shown as interactive exhibit at ‘Las Vegas Adventure Dome’(USA, National Geographic TV, June 2014).
- 31.Sarcone’s Mask of Love, presented in ‘Masahiro Nakai’s Useful Library’ TV show (Japan, June 2015).
- 32.Sarcone’s black belt session, June 2015.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
The identifiers under which Gianni A. Sarcone may be traced in institutional catalogues. Identity and origins. The authorities additionally record the headings Gianni Sarcone and Giovanni Sarcone. His recorded languages were French, English and Italian.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Modern design
3,254 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Giancarlo IliprandiDesigner
- Giandrea FabbroDesigner
- Gianfrancesco PenniDesigner
- Gianfranco FrattiniDesigner
- Gianni ColomboDesigner
- Giannino CastiglioniDesigner
- Gilbert BakerDesigner
- Gilbert RohdeDesigner
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Gianni A. Sarcone?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.