Alum I 1957 - 1962

Victor Vasarely made "Alum I" using simple shapes and colours, setting up an intricate game between perception and space. Just imagine him there, probably with meticulous tools, carefully plotting each circle and square, building a composition that feels like a high-stakes optical illusion. The black and white aren't just colours, they're players in a visual push and pull, each trying to dominate the eye. Then, like a painterly Russian doll, the shapes nestle within each other, as if inviting you to fall into the work. Vasarely, like other artists, such as Bridget Riley, was interested in how art could mess with your mind. There's no grand narrative here, just pure visual sensation. It's a bold move, stripping everything down to basics, betting it all on the power of perception. This piece reminds us that sometimes the simplest forms can spark the most complex experiences, proving that the conversation between artists never really ends.