Meta 1958

Victor Vasarely made Meta using a silkscreen print, creating an illusory dance between squares and circles. The way the image shifts feels really process-oriented, like a set of rules being played out, or a system unfolding before your eyes. Looking closely, the surface is super smooth, almost machine-like, which is part of its power. The colors are simple – black and white, with a blue border – but the way they interact creates depth and movement. Notice how the squares recede into the background while the circles pop forward, playing tricks on your eyes. It’s not just about the shapes themselves but the relationships between them and the optical effects that emerge. Vasarely reminds me of Bridget Riley, another artist who messed with perception, but Vasarely goes further into this idea of art as a system. It makes you wonder about the endless possibilities that can come from a simple set of rules.