Jésus Rafael Soto, metal, wood, nylon, 1965
The Venezuelan artist Jésus Rafael Soto moved to Paris in 1950 and emerged as one of the most important artists of op art and kinetic art. His early work had a spatial optical effect due to his composition of plexiglass planes on which lines or spiral shapes were applied. Around 1958, Soto introduced new materials and hung painted metal rods on thin nylon threads. With this he achieved a vibrating optical feeling. The artist also created architectural installations where the viewer is invited to move in an interactive way both around and between the bars.
‘Les Bâtons’ is an early example of his sculptures in which movement is caused not only by the optical effect but also by air displacement. Because of the striped background and their own body movement, the viewer experiences an impressive optical illusion.
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