Interférences en bleu et jaune (No. 642) 1963

Antonio Asis made this painting of blue and yellow interferences. Look how these hard-edge concentric circles are layered on top of each other, creating a visual push and pull. I can imagine the artist carefully plotting each circle, each ring of color. But then, maybe there was some chance involved? Maybe the artist let the paint drip and swirl, embracing the unpredictable nature of the medium? I love when a simple palette becomes so much more than the sum of its parts. I wonder if Asis was thinking about the Op art movement when he made this. It’s as if he wanted to create a visual vibration, something that would tickle the eye. These contrasting colors and precise forms definitely do that. Painting is about seeing, but it’s also about feeling, and Asis gives us a lot to feel here. It reminds me of Bridget Riley, who made similar experiments in abstraction. It’s all about how we affect each other as painters, constantly building upon what came before.