Surface & Signal Press Explores Expanded Trompe L'Oeil Through Digital Printing Research

GTTP

Introduces the 'expanded trompe l'oeil' framework for digital art.
Analyzes the intersection of digital textures and physical sculptural forms.
Examines site-specific urban interventions using high-resolution digital prints.
Highlights the productive gap between virtual imagery and material reality.

Impact - Why it Matters

This research is significant because it redefines the role of digital printing in contemporary art through the lens of 'expanded trompe l'oeil.' By analyzing how digital images interact with physical structures, it provides a crucial framework for understanding the evolving relationship between virtual simulation and tangible urban environments.

Summary

Surface & Signal Press, an imprint of Jeekwai Art Co Ltd, has released a peer-reviewed paper in the Proceedings of EVA London 2026 titled "Fixing Chicago Neighbourhood and New Nature: Simulation with Paper and Digital Printing." Authors Jiaqi Li, Wenru Xu, and Elke Reinhuber investigate the intersection of photography, digital processing, and physical materiality through the lens of two significant artworks by Jiaqi Li. By transforming digital textures into sculptural forms and site-specific interventions, the study challenges traditional boundaries between virtual representations and tangible reality.

The research explores New Nature and Fixing Chicago Neighbourhood, projects that use digital prints to engage with organic textures and urban decay. Rather than pursuing seamless deception, these works intentionally leave visible seams and paper edges, inviting viewers to acknowledge the constructive process behind the illusion. This deliberate imperfection highlights the productive tension between the digital image and its physical environment, reframing how we perceive public space and material culture.

The paper introduces the concept of "expanded trompe l'oeil," a framework for contemporary practices that integrate digital printing, installation, and video-game aesthetics. By moving beyond classical painting techniques, this research offers a critical perspective on how technical systems and visual media shape our everyday surroundings. The full open-access publication is now available via the EVA London proceedings, marking a significant contribution to the field of interdisciplinary arts and digital visualization.

Surface & Signal Press Explores Expanded Trompe L'Oeil Through Digital Printing Research

GTTP

Introduces the 'expanded trompe l'oeil' framework for digital art.
Analyzes the intersection of digital textures and physical sculptural forms.
Examines site-specific urban interventions using high-resolution digital prints.
Highlights the productive gap between virtual imagery and material reality.