Fondation Varesely is a art museum located in Aix en Provence, France, dedicated to the works of Victor Vasarely. Victor Vasarely was a Hungarian–French artist, who is widely accepted as a "grandfather" and leader of the op art movement. He is an artist who is famous for the optical art of the 20th century.
When gazing upon art like this you will be asking "How many dots do you see?" Or is it actually a moving picture with multiple dots. The painting present our eyes with contradictory data as we read part of the field in terms of dots and colour. The painting practically forces us to move backwards and forwards and as we do so, the field appears to move – expanding, contracting and undulating. The foundations for the Op Art movement have been laid.
Optical art has characteristics that cause optical illusions using geometric shapes, subtle color relationships, and perspective. If you look at the picture, does it look like it's protruding? Even though the picture is flat. Optical art pursues pure visual effects without think or feel it.
Varaely initially uses only black and white, gradually uses primary colors, and contrasts colors with boldness.
Inside the Fondation Vasarely, each module has several entrances and exits. You're not directed through the seven display rooms in any particular sequence. Art museums are divided into several rooms by theme and each room is made into room is made into a hexagon that reminds me of a honeycomb.
Optical art that makes moving optical illusions and movements is interesting because it has the same thing as current computer graphics. There is a fractal, or a copper line.
Op Art is developing a painting style that was all about the spectator’s perception of abstract forms and about the sensations and illusions that these could provoke. ‘Op’ is a shortening of ‘optical’, and Op Art aimed to explore the effects of different kinds of retinal stimulation, using closely spaced black-and-white or coloured patterns.
FONDATION VASARELY
Address: Jas de Bouffan, 13096 Aix-en-Provence
Opening Hours: 10:00 - 18:00
Admission: General 9 €, Student 6 €
Transport: Take bus no. 2 from Rotonde to Vasarely
Photo Vincent Sacau
Gisella AZEVEDO