video, b&w, sound, 6:24 min, 2022/2025
Illusion has two sides. That visual phenomenon where perception is tricked by form, light, and perspective: what we see is not always what is there. The illusions of our own thinking: assumptions, expectations, and narratives shaping how we interpret reality. While optical illusions reveal the limits of our eyes, illusory thinking exposes the possible scenarios of our mind.
This duality emerged from a very ordinary context. As construction and home renovations have expanded widely in Romania since the 2000s, many homeowners have experienced a similar disappointment: work done quickly, superficially, or carelessly by craftsmen. What initially looks finished and convincing often hides fragile execution underneath. The illusion of quality collapses once the surface is questioned.
This one-shot video documents a simple act: removing ceramic tiles that had been installed hastily by workers. As the tiles come off, the hidden structure becomes visible. What first appeared solid reveals gaps, shortcuts, and inconsistencies. The gesture becomes both literal and symbolic, an attempt to peel away the surface and expose the distance between appearance and reality.
