Koska-Lum 1971 - 1972

Victor Vasarely's "Koska-Lum" is, like, an explosion of color and geometry onto one flat surface. The way he's handled the paint here is almost airless, smooth and even, concealing any trace of the hand. That rigid grid structure is so controlled it creates a very controlled and artificial feel, but there’s something strangely organic happening too. These colors, shifting blues and greens, are totally seductive. I can almost feel myself falling through the picture plane, or maybe it's bulging out at me! Vasarely reminds me of Josef Albers, another artist who was totally obsessed with color and how it messes with your eyes. But while Albers was all about the square, Vasarely breaks free into these wild, almost psychedelic shapes. Ultimately, this artwork is about how we see, and how slippery perception can be.