Japanese artist Kumi Yamashita creates amazing shadow art by using various seemingly ordinary items and some light. A giant steel exclamation point, lit from right angle becomes a question mark, paper sheets cast shadows that look like faces, aluminum numbers add up to create a silhouette of a woman – these are just a few examples of what can be done with shadows.

Tim Noble and Sue Webster take ordinary things including rubbish, to make assemblages and then point light to create projected shadows which show a great likeness to something identifiable including self-portraits. Throughout their careers they have played with the idea of how humans perceive abstract images and define them with meaning. The result is surprising and powerful as it redefines how abstract forms can transform into figurative ones.

Azerbaijani artist Rashad Alakbarov uses various everyday objects and some back light to create his jaw-dropping shadow paintings. The best part is that you can easily create something similar at home – all you need is one or two lamps and some items from your desk.