Lunatique compact n° 3 1996

Francois Morellet made this artwork, Lunatique compact n° 3, from mixed media. Morellet’s work investigates light and space, using a range of materials and methods to create visually engaging works. Here, curved white forms radiate from a central point, like an otherworldly geometric dance frozen in time. The neon tubes cast a cool, luminous glow on the white surface. I imagine Morellet in his studio, carefully calculating angles and curves, allowing chance and geometry to play out on the surface. Each element feels precisely placed, yet the overall effect is dynamic, as if the piece is constantly shifting. It reminds me of other artists who explore light and movement, like Olafur Eliasson, or even some of Josef Albers’s geometric works, but here the hard-edged materials offer a striking twist. The effect is both clean and compelling; I like how the artist uses the light to draw the eye around the piece. It is these experimentations and dialogues with other artworks which make painting such an exciting and endlessly renewable medium.