Schema luminoso variabile R. Cubo 1963

Grazia Varisco created this light installation, titled *Schema luminoso variabile R. Cubo*, using electric light within a box. The work exemplifies the ideas of the Italian Kinetic art movement, which questioned the role of the artist and the art object. Varisco belonged to Gruppo T, active in Milan from 1959 to 1964. This was a time of rapid industrial expansion in Italy, with Milan at its heart. The artists of Gruppo T rejected traditional painting and sculpture, instead creating objects that explored perception, movement, and the use of new technologies. They wanted to break down the separation of art and life, aiming for a democratic art that would involve the viewer directly. Varisco’s work challenged the established art institutions through its ephemeral and interactive nature. To understand such works, art historians consult manifestos, exhibition reviews, and artists' writings, to explore how art reflects and engages with its contemporary world. This artwork’s meaning is contingent on the social and institutional context of the time, highlighting the artist’s role as a key commentator on Italian society.