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Twisted mind: The graphic pattern genius of M. C. EscherFrom impossible staircases to tesselated birds- Dutch artist M. C. Escher (1898 1972) crafted a unique graphic language of patterns- puzzles- and mathematics. Dense- complex- and structured by intricate principles- his work is at the same time decorative and playful- toying constantly with optic illusions and the limitations of sensory perception. For mathematicians and scientists- Escher is a mastermind. For hippies- he was the pioneer of psychedelic art.Born in Leeuwarden- in the Netherlands in 1898- Escher s early works focused on nature and landscapes- with regular exhibitions in Holland- and some international recognition. It was on a trip to the Alhambra Palace in Spain in the 1920s- however- that Escher found his niche. Sketching the patterns of the palace s Moorish architecture- Escher became captivated by the codependency of forms within and next to each other.Working mainly with lithographs and woodcuts- Escher went on to explore the relationships among shapes- figures- and space with a near-obsessive delight. He reveled in quirky vantage points- multiple perspectives- the transition from paper flatness to illusory volume- and intricate mathematical puzzles such as the Mobius strip- a seemingly infinite loop which twists and recoils on itself in a contortion of apparent physical impossibility.This introductory book from TASCHEN Basic Art 2.0 taps into Escher s brilliant mind with key works from his restless investigation of image and perception. Along the way- you ll find fish morphing into birds- lizards cr...