Electric Op.

Op art emerged during the 1950s, using geometric abstraction to explore the eye and movement. By placing the optical and cognitive mechanisms of human perception at the heart of its approach, Op art also questioned the new ways in which developing technology was affecting people’s lives. With the rise of television and the development of communications and IT, Op art took its place as the artistic movement of a new era.

In the 1960s, Op art also began to attract the attention of pioneers in video and computer art. Its geometric motifs – whether produced by machines or by hand – its use of repetitive programmed patterns as a source of creative material, and its love of optical science and mathematics meant that Op art shared historic, theorical and formal links with emerging artforms using new media, and this across several generations.

Today, some digital artists retain elements of Op art vocabulary, highlighting their claim to this connection. It is also sometimes combined with a desire to return to low-tech, to a form of technological moderation where the tools used can easily be seen, understood, and modified.

The exhibition is divided into 5 sections grouped around the Lab, a space where young and old alike can come and go to understand and experiment. Enjoy your visit!