For

Middle Years Students

Curriculum

Art

Aim

To undertake a design exercise inspired by Victor Vasarely.

Preparation

To do this activity you will need to:

• Read the information for Theme Two – Postwar Abstraction in Europe.
• View the work either online or in the exhibition.
• Research through the library or Internet.

Collect possible materials:

• Isometric grid paper.
• A range of graphite pencils.

Individual Task

First draw a sphere, cube, cylinder and pyramid using light (white), dark (black) and mid tone (grey).

Shade the faces of the cube to make it look more solid. Consider your light source. An easy way to draw objects in isometric projection is to use isometric grid paper. You may also consider drawing a cubic box or a spherical ball and using a spotlight to observe how light falls on the object.

Within a diamond format draw either a sphere, cube or pyramid.

Use light (white), dark (black) and mid tone (grey) to create a solid looking form. Add one colour only; you may repeat this in several areas throughout the composition.

Experiment with combining these forms to create the illusion of three dimensions.

Experiment with repeating these geometric solids to create honeycomb like patterns. You may like to use isometric grid paper for this exercise. You may scan your drawing of a geometric solid and repeat the form into a final image using digital technologies.

Research Questions

Define the terms Kinetic Art and Op Art.

Group Task

Display your class's work making even more patterns by repeating works created within a diamond shape format. Discuss the overall impact of the rhythm created by repetition.

Discussion Questions

Vasarely saw Cheyt-M 1970, as a major work in his series. He described it in this mathematical way:

"a cellular structure which sustains six equilateral triangles, which gives us three identical lozenges, and finally a hexagon forming a cube"

Vasarely's work plays optical games with the mind and the eye. These works give illusion of depth where in fact there is none.

How do you react to the sensation of seeing this work firsthand? Explain the optical effect in your own words.