3D Art Exhibition in China Delights Visitors [PHOTOS]

A host of 3D paintings, part of the 2012 Magic Art special exhibition in the city of Hangzhou, in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang, has been entertaining visitors since it opened earlier this month. For those of us still new to the concept, a 3D painting is any artistic effort that gives the illusion of being three-dimensional. The art show is at the Hangzhou Peace International Exhibition and Conference Centre.

The projection technique used for creating such works of art is called anamorphosis and, according to British street artist Julian Beever, who creates three-dimensional drawings on pavements and other surfaces, anamorphosis involves the drawing of an illusion (Anamorphic) with a special distortion in order to create an impression of three dimensions when seen from a particular viewpoint.

In November last year, the Guinness World Records organisation declared British artist Joe Hill's art work - at Canary Wharf - the world's largest three-dimensional street painting. Hill's floor painting, depicting the yawning chasm of an icy gorge, measured more than 1,120 sq m (12,000 sq ft).

The Magic Art special exhibition features several such wall paintings and each of them is a stunning work of art - there are paintings of dragons and sharks that appear, from certain angles, so lifelike as to almost convince visitors they are alive! The 3D art exhibition in Hangzhou also features many humorous paintings that have kept museum attendees amused and in good cheer.

The paintings were created by 15 South Korean artists, exclusively for the Hangzhou's Magic Art Special Exhibition, over a period of four months.

Check out some of these most entertaining and deceptive paintings