This Mind-Boggling Installation Breaks The Laws Of Physics—Or Does It?

Artist Matt Kenyon exploits a common optical illusion in Supermajor, a commentary on the oil industry’s abundance and waste. Ever heard of a “supermajor?” I hadn’t either. But if you grew up in an oil town or near the Gulf Coast, it’s probably a familiar term. It refers to the six biggest publicly owned oil companies, including BP, Chevron, and ExxonMobil. It’s also the title of a new installation by Louisiana native Matt Kenyon. Supermajor--the art piece, not the group of corporations--takes you by surprise. The installation is set up in a darkened room, with a single bulb casting a flickering light over six vintage oil cans. One of them has a rent in it, and a honey-colored oil pours out onto the white pedestal below. At least that’s what we expect it to do. But thanks to a complex optical illusion, the oil seems to be moving back into th...