Déplacement optique “A” 1967

This kinetic artwork, *Déplacement optique “A”* by Martha Boto, is a construction of movement and light. The neon-green shapes hang suspended in a dark void, each a precise geometric form, yet together they create a sense of organic growth. I imagine Boto, meticulously arranging each piece, considering how it catches and reflects light, and how the forms interact. There's a playfulness to the piece, as the eye jumps from one shape to the next, trying to make sense of the overall composition. I wonder if she thought about it like a dance? The translucence of the materials is just beautiful; they bring a kind of ethereal quality to the work. The light seems to bend and shift as you move around it. Like the work of other kinetic artists such as Alexander Calder and Jean Tinguely, Boto's sculpture invites us to contemplate the relationship between form, movement, and perception. I love how, as a viewer, you become part of the performance. It reminds us that art isn't just about what we see, but how we see.