ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Carsten Höller's Upside-Down Goggles Invert Perception, Echoing an 1890s Psychology Experiment

artist · 2026-10-12

Introduced in 1994, Carsten Höller's Upside-Down Goggles alter the user's perception by flipping their visual field upside down. A feature on designboom connects this innovation to George M. Stratton's experiments from the 1890s, where he utilized an optical device to explore perception with an inverted view. Stratton's initial test in 1896 spanned 21.5 hours over three days, and he later expanded it to 87 hours across eight days in 1897, observing challenges with movement coordination. Höller notes that after just five minutes of wearing the goggles, individuals experience shifts in perception that disrupt their visual and physical coordination. This work has been showcased in various exhibitions, including the 1995 Take Me (I'm Yours) at Serpentine Gallery and the 2015 Decision at Hayward Gallery.

Key facts

  • Carsten Höller's Upside-Down Goggles were first presented in 1994.
  • The goggles invert the wearer's field of vision, making familiar surroundings appear upside down.
  • American psychologist George M. Stratton conducted experiments in the 1890s with an optical apparatus that reversed his visual field.
  • Stratton's first experiment, published in 1896, involved wearing the apparatus for 21.5 hours over three days.
  • A longer 1897 investigation had Stratton wearing the apparatus for 87 hours over eight days.
  • Höller describes noticing a slight shift in perception after only five minutes of wearing the goggles.
  • The work was included in the 1995 Serpentine Gallery exhibition Take Me (I'm Yours), selected by Hans Ulrich Obrist.
  • Upside-Down Goggles also appeared in the 2015 Hayward Gallery exhibition Decision, curated by Ralph Rugoff.

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Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom

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