Diligently working away in his corrugated studio shed on the edge of the Swan Valley you’ll find Thomas Maurer, mathematician, musician, artist and the inventor of what Thomas calls, ‘Illusionary Art’.

With his greying ash-blonde locks, his large pale-blue eyes and his gentle German accent, Thomas Maurer is always happy to make time to talk about his art. But when it comes to working, the hair is neatly tied into a ponytail, his eyes narrow and sharpen behind protective goggles, and his brow furrows in concentration as the sounds and smells of angle-grinder against metal takes over his darkened studio.

Thomas’ art cannot be described easily in words. It’s something you have to see and experience for yourself. What begins as large flat sheets of aluminium are transformed into amazing complex three-dimensional works of art. When standing in front of one of the artworks you’re taken on a visual journey. Polished layers of light areas superimpose shadowy swirls of dark areas creating a visual experience so immersive, you actually feel as though you could reach out and place your hand into the artwork.

Thomas has been creating his three-dimensional artworks for the last 10 years.

‘The inspiration came quite by accident,’ Thomas said.

‘I was using a grinder on my old truck when I noticed how the different effects
could be created.’

It then took Thomas three years to understand and perfect the movements that
give his artworks such amazing depth.

‘I was naive because I initially thought I could use the grinder like a paintbrush. But there is a mathematical formula to the technique which involves having to predict the future. I now know that if I put ‘Effect A’ and ‘Effect B’ together it will create a three-dimensional effect, and that’s how I compose the artwork.’

Over 50,000 visitors have experienced Thomas’ artworks and pieces have been shipped all over the world.

Thomas describes his work as ‘where art meets science’, mind-boggling would be another way to describe it. But whatever the description, it is inspiring to see Western Australian supplied aluminium being used in such an unusual, creative and immersive way.