Content warning: This mural transforms its meaning when reflected in the water—what appears upside-down on the wall becomes upright magic in the river’s reflection.
“Floating World” by Ray Bartkus in Marijampolė, Lithuania.
This remarkable mural by Ray Bartkus was intentionally painted upside-down to create a magical effect. The swimmers, rowers, and swans appear right-side-up only when reflected in the waters of the Šešupė River, which flows through the heart of the city.
Visitors to the old dam are invited to rediscover the mural’s beauty time and time again. As Bartkus explains:
“The drawing itself is created in reverse, and its true form is revealed only in the water’s reflection. I hope that every time people pass by, they will discover something new, because this artwork, like our days in life, is never the same as it was yesterday.”
What do you think about the mural that reveals itself when you look at its reflection in the water?
