louis pratt presents ground breaking sculptural work—a very dutch ghost

12 September 2022

An experiential sculptural work that combines art and science to extend the canon of anamorphosis in art.

In Louis Pratt’s A Very Dutch Ghost, the observer forms part of the work, as the mediator between the sculpture and its reflection. This work exploits a law of physics that has never before been applied in art. The effect is unlike anything we have seen before – evoking qualities of the holographic, ghost-like and the ethereal.

Arguably the most famous historical example of anamorphic art is the painting by Hans Holbein the younger called The Ambassador’s painted in 1553. A Very Dutch Ghost, pays homage to this seminal work while also referencing Vincent van Gogh’s painting of a skeleton smoking a cigarette. 

The installation comprises of a stainless-steel concave mirror and a bronze sculpture - an anamorphic distorted skull. The curvature and optic distortion of the mirror has been accounted for in the creation of the sculpture, so that the image in the reflection appears undistorted.

At the same time, the reflected image seems to come towards us, and to move with us, appearing, in front, rather than inside the mirrored surfaced, as we would expect. This work builds upon Louis Pratt’s more than twenty-year exploration of anamorphic art, and his propensity to push the boundaries to create compelling and enigmatic sculptural works.

The work has been developed through PhD research and collaboration with leading computer scientist and geometry processing specialist, Dr Nico Pietroni. The pair worked together to develop bespoke ray-tracing software that allows them to correct the distortion of objects caused by curved mirrored surfaces or transparent media.

A Very Dutch Ghost explores art history and the illusory nature of perception, with an innovative approach to sculpture practice, which promises more exciting developments to come.

"A Very Dutch Ghost is the ultimate experiential artwork and should be viewed in person." 

The sculpture will be on show in the Nanda\Hobbs Project Space until 18 September.

VIEW SHORT VIDEO

Join Louis Pratt for an Artist Talk in the Nanda\Hobbs Project Space on Sunday 18 September, 2.30–4pm

 

News

Christopher Horder feature in Qantas Magazine: Travel Insider

9 July 2025

When Sydney-born painter Christopher Horder was in Year 10, his English teacher gave him Jack Kerouac’s 1957 novel On The Road. Influenced by its anti-conformist message, Horder left school a year later to enrol in a Diploma of Fine Arts at TAFE. “I had to go and start doing what I wanted to do,” he says. Soon after, Horder rented a space at Lennox Street Studios in Sydney’s Newtown, where, aside from a productive year in Berlin in 2010, he’s been painting on and off for 30 years. 

Read more
NH Event

IN CONVERSATION: CAROLINE ZILINSKY & MEGAN MONTE

23 June 2025

Join us in the gallery or an in-depth conversation between Caroline Zilinsky and Megan Monte, Director of Ngununggula, Southern Highlands Regional Gallery. Together, they'll unpack the themes, tensions, and contradictions that shape Mirror Mirror.

Saturday 28 June, 12 - 1pm.

Read more
News

Nanda\Hobbs Finalists in the Waverley Art Prize 2025

18 June 2025

We are thrilled to share that Nick SantoroJody Graham, and Tony Mighell have all been selected as finalists in the Waverley Art Prize 2025. Chosen from over 550 submissions, their works are among the 40 finalists.

Read more
12 - 14 Meagher Street Chippendale, NSW 2008
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm Saturday, 11am - 4pm Easter 2025: The gallery will closed from 18 - 21 April Closed Public Holidays (and Easter Saturday)