OP-ART Today’s Lesson Victor Vasarely Abstract Optical Illusion This is our artist for today – his name is Victor Vaserely He was known as the creator of Op-Art – Which is a mix between Abstract Art and Optical Illusions…. We are going to talk about his art Zebagen – where he created a Masterpiece using just shapes and colors. Background Born in Hungary Studied medicine before traditional painting In 1930 he moved to Paris where he worked as a graphic artist and began working on his style of abstract art. His art came to be known as Optical Art because of the optical illusion created by his use of contrasting colors and geometric shapes. He was hailed as the creator of “Op-Art”. Died in Paris Vasarely experimented with textural effects, perspective, shadow and light. He also experimented with cubistic, futuristic, expressionistic, symbolistic and surrealistic paintings without developing a unique style. Finally, Vasarely found his own style of geometric abstract art, working in various materials but using minimal number of forms and colors.

ABSTRACT The Zebras (1938) - A work of art that is usually based on an identifiable subject, but the artist leaves out the details, simplifies or rearranges visual elements. What is Abstract? Does anybody know what are in these pictures? How many Zebras are in this picture? Do they look like the zebras that you would see at the zoo? That is why this is abstract….it does not look just like the zebras you see at the zoo, there are no manes, there tails are different, and their shapes are different. This is how Victor “saw” zebras when he was painting them….and even though it is abstract….each one of you knew exactly what he was painting. The Zebras (1938) -

Optical Illusion A misleading image Here is an example of an optical illusion….Remember, Victor used Abstract and optical illusions to create his art. What do you see here? A duck? Does anybody see anything else? How about a rabbit? Does any body see a rabbit (outline the nose, mouth, eyes and ears with your finger) This is an optical illusion and it tries to trick your eyes and your brain.

Is this picture moving? This is another example of an optical illusion – does this picture look like its moving? Well….its not moving – but the artist uses the same shapes and 4 different colors to create this optical illusion.

Vasarely used shapes and contrast to trick your eyes Tlinko - 1955 Vasarely used shapes and contrast to trick your eyes Vasarely did the same thing….he would use shapes to trick your eyes….

Vasarely - Zebegan (1964) This is the painting we are going to study today – Zebegan. Victor used just shapes and colors to make this famous painting Tell me some shapes that you see? Are all the circles the same size? Are all the squares the same size? What colors do you see? Are all the squares the same colors? Are all the circles the same colors? Victor is not trying to paint any object or person in this painting – he is just trying to use shapes and colors in an interesting way. He stacks circles on top of squares, and squares on top of squares. And now that you all know your shapes and colors, you are going to create a Zebegan of your own… I am going to give you a bunch of Squares and Circles and I want you to arrange them on your paper, I want you to stack them on top of each other, and fill up your space.  

What we will be doing Make different arrangements using your pre- cut geometric shapes until you find a design and optical effect you like. Then glue the shapes in place on the mounting paper. Be sure to try stacking the shapes to create an optical illusion.