Movement in Squares 1961

Bridget Riley made this painting, ‘Movement in Squares’, with black and white paint. Looking at it, I can imagine her painting each square, carefully trying to keep the lines straight, and then, she has this ‘aha!’ moment to disrupt the pattern and cause a visual vibration. I sympathize with Riley, thinking about all the decisions she had to make. Like, how to make it look so simple, yet so complex? It makes you question how you see. The rhythm of the squares begins to change, creating an optical illusion. The material qualities of the painting are important here; the contrast between black and white creates a clear distinction between shapes. It feels like a dance between order and chaos. Riley's work reminds me of other artists who experimented with visual perception, like Victor Vasarely. Artists inspire each other across time and space. Ultimately, painting is a form of expression that allows for ambiguity and multiple interpretations, inviting us to see the world in new and exciting ways.