Hidden Faces

Sometimes artists draw pictures with double meanings. Many of these are hidden faces, but some have just a hidden or changing content. In German one refers to these pictures as "Vexierbilder". You need mental flexibility to unravel these pictures and they inspire you to see things from a different perspective.

Organisation

  • Duration
    Short (up to 30 minutes)
  • Complexity
    Simple
  • Group size
    1 to 10 persons

This activity is suitable online.

Description Long

In 1911 Franz Kafka wrote in his journal: the hidden in a "Vexierbild" is obvious and invisible. Obvious to the one who found what he was invited to look for, invisible to the one that is unaware to look for something. It is similar with good ideas; once they are there they seem obvious. To start a creative workshop by looking at pictures with hidden faces and trying to unravel them is fun and stimulates the participants to look and think carefully. "I spy with my little eye" creates a relaxed atmosphere and fosters self-confidence.

Illustration

Preparation

  1. Look for pictures with hidden faces. Makes sure they are not too common.
  2. Print the pictures on cards or prepare a presentation on your computer.

Execution

  1. Explain to the participants that the "Vexierbilder" help them to see things differently and that they stimulate the process of creative thinking.
  2. Present the pictures and let the participants discover the hidden.
  3. In an additional step ask the participants to consciously switch between the hidden pictures.

Hints from experience

...

Tools list

  • Picture puzzles

References

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vexierbild

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidden_faces

Back to list