Kettes 1984

Curator: Standing before us is Victor Vasarely’s "Kettes" from 1984, created using acrylic paint. Editor: Oh, this just vibrates with energy! The black and white contrast is so stark, creating an almost dizzying sense of movement. I'm immediately drawn into its optical play. Curator: Absolutely. Vasarely was a pioneer of Op Art, and here we see him masterfully manipulating geometric forms. Notice how he’s deployed the diamond shapes across the canvas. Editor: And they’re not just diamonds, are they? He’s transformed them, giving the impression of two bulging spheres stacked vertically. Black and white, yin and yang – the duality is striking. There’s also the sense of a face in each, a somewhat totemic effect. Curator: Interesting observation. Thinking about materiality, it is fascinating how he creates such dynamism using just paint. Consider the layers needed to build up that subtle shading, or what appear to be shadows and highlights. He’s tricking our eye with calculated precision. How many coats did he layer for perfect alignment, how consistent is the acrylic coverage, and what are the socio-economic conditions under which his assistants carried this production? Editor: But that precise arrangement evokes something beyond mere geometry. Diamonds have historically symbolized wealth, stability... maybe there’s an underlying commentary on power structures? Though I will concede the visual deception and material construction create an incredibly potent experience! Curator: It is almost as if each small diamond needed to be in the correct place or else the intended final result is rendered unusable, potentially resulting in material waste that Vasarely, and we today, have the resources to ignore. Editor: That’s a point, perhaps subconsciously influencing the dynamism of the work – a perfect symbol for art under production! Still, I read that form beyond merely its manufacturing conditions – for me this painting, ultimately, is an image pregnant with meaning! Curator: An interesting conclusion. The conversation definitely reveals Vasarely’s command of material and construction, alongside potential meaning. Editor: Agreed. It just goes to show how different lenses offer such diverse interpretations from one art work!