moiré glas 2010

Carsten Nicolai made ‘moiré glas’ with steel and glass, and the first thing I notice is how the piece plays with transparency and opacity. The glass panels layered together invite you to wander about the work, viewing it from all angles. This is important to understanding it, as the interaction of the layers changes depending on your position. The texture is created by a fine grid etched on the surface of the glass panels, catching the light and throwing it back in interesting ways. The patterns seem to shift and shimmer, almost like movement, and the moiré effect, that rippling sensation, gives it a visual buzz, or hum, as you walk around it. I'm reminded of the light and space artists in California, like Robert Irwin, who also explore perception and sensory experience through minimal forms. Nicolai's work, like theirs, invites us to slow down and really *look*, engaging with the piece in a way that's active, not passive. Ultimately, it's up to you to bring your own interpretation to the experience.