// Vertigo by Victor Vasarely, created in 1982, is a silkscreen print that exemplifies the artist's exploration of optical illusions and spatial depth. This limited edition piece, produced in an edition of 65 with additional artist proofs, features a dynamic blue-and-white checkerboard pattern that forms a diamond shape within a larger grid. The central circular form and the distortion of squares toward the edges create an illusion of movement, as if the central shape is vibrating or pulsating outwards. The visual effect is dizzying, aptly evoking a sense of vertigo and challenging the viewer's perception of flatness versus depth. Vasarely’s precise arrangement of geometric forms and contrast between blue and white engage the eye in a rhythmic exploration, making the piece appear to shift as one’s gaze moves across it. Vertigo stands as a powerful example of Vasarely’s mastery in Op Art, transforming simple shapes into an immersive optical experience.
Victor Vasarely (Hungary/France, 1906–1997) was a pioneering figure in Op Art, celebrated for his geometric abstractions that create optical illusions of depth and movement. His work, characterized by vibrant colors and precise patterns, redefined visual perception in art and remains influential in both the art and design worlds.
Silkscreen Silkscreen is a printmaking method that uses a screen made of silk or other mesh fabric. The screen is treated with a substance that blocks ink in certain areas, allowing ink to pass through only in the desired sections. Each color in the print requires a separate screen.
// Vertigo by Victor Vasarely, created in 1982, is a silkscreen print that exemplifies the artist's exploration of optical illusions and spatial depth. This limited edition piece, produced in an edition of 65 with additional artist proofs, features a dynamic blue-and-white checkerboard pattern that forms a diamond shape within a larger grid. The central circular form and the distortion of squares toward the edges create an illusion of movement, as if the central shape is vibrating or pulsating outwards. The visual effect is dizzying, aptly evoking a sense of vertigo and challenging the viewer's perception of flatness versus depth. Vasarely’s precise arrangement of geometric forms and contrast between blue and white engage the eye in a rhythmic exploration, making the piece appear to shift as one’s gaze moves across it. Vertigo stands as a powerful example of Vasarely’s mastery in Op Art, transforming simple shapes into an immersive optical experience.
Victor Vasarely (Hungary/France, 1906–1997) was a pioneering figure in Op Art, celebrated for his geometric abstractions that create optical illusions of depth and movement. His work, characterized by vibrant colors and precise patterns, redefined visual perception in art and remains influential in both the art and design worlds.
It is the original idea that is unique, not the object itself.
- Victor Vasarely
Widely regarded as the 'grandfather’ and leading figure of the Op Art movement, Victor Vasarely was a sculptor and painter whose works often combine colourful graphics with geometric shapes to create the illusion of spatial depth, exemplified in such works as Vega-Nor. Vasarely initially began as a poster artist and graphic designer before experimenting artistically with textural effects and the interplay between shadow and light, resulting in such works as Zebra, which is broadly accepted as one of the first examples of Op Art; the artist worked with numerous materials including Perspex and wood, but only a minimal number of colours and forms. Throughout his career, Vasarely experimented with numerous styles including surrealism and cubism, but was most notably inspired by the methods of Bauhaus and Constructivism, as well as painter and art theorist Wassily Kandinsky. (Artist website)
Constructivism is an architectural and artistic philosophy of Russian origin that emerged as a rejection of the idea of autonomous art. The movement advocated for art to serve practical social purposes. Since its inception in 1919, Constructivism has evolved and significantly impacted 20th-century art movements, influencing major trends such as De Stijl and Bauhaus.