Vega-Zett 02 1971

Victor Vasarely made this picture, Vega-Zett 02, using paint to create this optical illusion. It's fascinating how such flat color creates the impression of roundness, like a bubble emerging from the picture plane. The piece pulses with a sense of movement, due to the careful arrangement of red, blue and black, creating an effect that feels strangely mechanical. Look at how each colored disc is placed in such a precise way. This suggests an interest in art as a kind of system or structure. It reminds me a little of Bridget Riley's work, but without the same sense of fluidity. Vasarely's hard-edged forms are more definite, and the optical illusion more pronounced. Ultimately, the image opens up a space where vision and perception get delightfully tangled.