GIANT ellipses cocooning Fremantle’s iconic High Street buildings create a mind-bending perspective trick and help soften their straight lines. Paris-based Swiss artist Felice Varini (pictured) has been perched in a cherry picker  all week preparing the installation for the launch of the High Tide festival, which is being held as part of the Fremantle Festival from October 28 to November 12.

Arcs D’Ellipses was created using painted tin foil to create the illusion, but leave the historic buildings unmarked. High Tide is the brainchild of PS Art Space director Tom Muller and involves 31 outdoor public installations and gallery exhibitions.

It’s the first incarnation of the Fremantle Biennale and has been developed with Freo council, state and federal departments and local business. For the full program head to http://www.hightidefremantle.com