Lunatique compact n° 3 1996

Francois Morellet made this kinetic sculpture, Lunatique compact n° 3, with neon and wood. It’s a piece of pure process, a study in how simple forms can create complexity, just like in painting! I see a circular structure with neon lights tracing arcs above it. Morellet's palette is limited to white, which throws the emphasis onto form and light. It's about the physicality of light, how it bends and shapes the space around it. Look closely, you can see the careful construction, how the neon tubes are bent into precise curves. This almost feels like a drawing in space, like someone has taken line for a walk, just like the Swiss artist Paul Klee. The neon is bright, clean, and almost clinical, but the underlying shapes add a layer of human imperfection. Lunatique compact n° 3 reminds us that art is not just about a finished object, but about the thinking and doing that goes into it, and this makes the work truly come alive.