M.C. Escher's meticulous masterpieces on display at the National Gallery of Canada
Exhibition featuring 54 works opens on Saturday and runs until May 3rd
M.C. Escher's mind-bending images have fascinated people around the world for decades. Now the remarkable works of the Dutch graphic artist are on display in a new exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.
The show is made up of 54 pieces drawn from the gallery's extensive collection of 230 lithographs, illustrations and wood cuts—works that were donated by Escher son, George Escher, in the 1980s and 1990s.
Even at the age of 88, George Escher, who lives in Nova Scotia, has warm memories of his father making art.
"His hands were always busy," Escher told CBC News, "drawing, cutting, printing. His hands are the main impression that I always have."
M.C. Escher was a skilled draughtsman, a book illustrator, a tapestry designer and muralist. But the artist is best-known for his mathematically-inspired prints that play with symmetry and spatial logic.
His style has made a huge influence on popular culture, especially in film. Director Christopher Nolan has acknowledged borrowing heavily from Escher's fantastical images in his science fiction epics Inception and Interstellar.
Canadians can get an up close look at the artist's meticulous works at the exhibition "M.C. Escher: The Mathemagician".
It runs from Dec. 20 to May 3, 2015 at the National Gallery of Canada.
CBC Ottawa reporter Sandra Abma gets a preview in the video above.