// Rafael Jesús Soto’s Untitled (Circles and Lines), created in 1970, is a screen print that exemplifies the artist's exploration of optical art and kinetic aesthetics. In this work, Soto uses a series of overlapping lines to create a sense of movement and visual depth. The composition features a central circular form that appears to be partially obscured by horizontal lines in black, green, and blue. The interaction of the lines with the underlying circle generates an optical illusion, where the viewer’s perception shifts depending on their focus and the angle of viewing. The addition of blue lines introduces a vibrant contrast, which enhances the dynamic quality of the piece. Soto’s work is known for its ability to manipulate the viewer’s visual experience, creating an almost three-dimensional effect on a two-dimensional surface. This limited edition print is an excellent example of his mastery in blending geometric abstraction with the perceptual effects of light and motion.
Jesús Rafael Soto (Venezuela, 1923–2005) was a pioneering figure in kinetic and op art. Renowned for his 'Penetrables' series, he created immersive installations that invited viewer interaction, blurring the lines between art and observer. Soto's work explored movement, perception, and the dematerialization of the art object, leaving a lasting impact on contemporary art.
Screen-print Screen printing is a technique where ink is transferred through a mesh onto a substrate, with areas blocked by a stencil to prevent ink from passing through. This method, also known as serigraphy or silkscreen printing, is commonly used to produce prints on posters, T-shirts, vinyl, stickers, wood, and other materials. The process is a type of stencil printing, allowing for vibrant, detailed designs on various surfaces.
// Rafael Jesús Soto’s Untitled (Circles and Lines), created in 1970, is a screen print that exemplifies the artist's exploration of optical art and kinetic aesthetics. In this work, Soto uses a series of overlapping lines to create a sense of movement and visual depth. The composition features a central circular form that appears to be partially obscured by horizontal lines in black, green, and blue. The interaction of the lines with the underlying circle generates an optical illusion, where the viewer’s perception shifts depending on their focus and the angle of viewing. The addition of blue lines introduces a vibrant contrast, which enhances the dynamic quality of the piece. Soto’s work is known for its ability to manipulate the viewer’s visual experience, creating an almost three-dimensional effect on a two-dimensional surface. This limited edition print is an excellent example of his mastery in blending geometric abstraction with the perceptual effects of light and motion.
Jesús Rafael Soto (Venezuela, 1923–2005) was a pioneering figure in kinetic and op art. Renowned for his 'Penetrables' series, he created immersive installations that invited viewer interaction, blurring the lines between art and observer. Soto's work explored movement, perception, and the dematerialization of the art object, leaving a lasting impact on contemporary art.
Art is not expression; art is knowledge.
- Rafael Jesus Soto
Celebrated for his contributions to both the Op Art movement and Kinetic Sculpture, Jesus Rafael Soto worked with a range of materials to create his trademark sculptural reliefs; his works study the interplay between colours as well as the dynamic between foreground and background, both of which often result in a final optical illusion effect, as exemplified in his acclaimed Vibration Blanc et Jaune work. Soto began his artistic career as a post-impressionist painter, but later discovered the methods and teachings of Piet Mondrian, from whom he gained much of his inspiration. Alongside his notable reliefs, Soto created a number of interactive sculptures that allowed direct audience participation – Penetrables is among his most successful works of this kind, of which the artist has remarked ‘’when you enter a penetrable, you have the sensation of being in a light swirl, a total plenitude of vibrations.’’ (Artist website)
Geometric abstraction is a form of abstract art that uses geometric shapes arranged in a non-illusionistic space (though not always) and combined into non-representational (non-objective) compositions. Based on years of artistic research, some artists have proposed that geometric abstraction offers a solution to modern challenges by rejecting traditional illusionistic practices in favor of clarity and simplicity.