It looks like winter is behind us in Japan now and we can soon look forward to taking a dip outdoors. However, it looks as if these people jumped the gun by a month or so and took the plunge early… with all their clothes on… carrying bags and sinking to the bottom like a stone…

What on earth is going on here?

Watching the video, it’s a lot easier to guess this is an illusion. The pool is actually covered with a clear glass plate and 10cm-deep water is poured on top to make it look like a full pool.

This is an exhibit currently on display at the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art titled Swimming Pool by Leandro Erlich.

The concept is for people to look at each other from both sides of the “pool” and gain a deeper sense of the inward and outward perspectives we have. Heavy, though I guess we could say that about any magic trick.

Source: 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art via Byokan Sunday (Japanese)
Video: YouTube – egress123