Vibrations @ Des Moines Art Center, Iowa, USA

Vibrations @ Des Moines Art Center, Iowa, USA

The Des Moines Art Center in Iowa is currently hosting a new Op Art and Kinetic Art exhibition – “Vibrations” – featuring 23 paintings drawn from the Center’s permanent collection.  On display are works by Bridget Riley, Victor Vasarely, Yaacov Agam, Jesús Rafael Soto, Frank Stella and Marcel Duchamp (amongst others).

The exhibition runs from January 22nd 2013 until May 12th 2013.  Vibrations has been organized by Amy N. Worthen, curator of prints and drawings at the center.

Bill Komodore - Circe

Bill Komodore – Circe

Carlos Cruz-Diaz - Couleur Additive

Carlos Cruz-Diaz – Couleur Additive

Marcel Duchamp

Marcel Duchamp

Entrance to the exhibition is free.  Hours are:

Monday – closed

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 11 am — 4 pm

Thursday: 11 am — 9 pm

Saturday: 10 am — 4 pm

Sunday: Noon — 4 pm

Des Moines Art Center,

4700 Grand Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50312-2099

The Exhibition Press release is available here

 

Anomynous Artist

Anomynous Artist

Op Art started primarily in black and white.  Bridget Riley’s early pieces for example were painted solely in black and white.  Later she introduced shades of grey and later still a limited set of colours.  It’s nice to see the artist ‘Anomynous’ (sic) going back to the roots of Op Art and producing some excellent hand painted black and white pieces all created without the use of a computer.

Symmplicetry
Anomynous
63 X 51 cm
Ink and Acrylic
Paper
Symmplicetry Anomynous 63 X 51 cm Ink and Acrylic Paper
Free to Come, Free to Go
Anomynous
50 X 40 cm (approx.)
Ink and Acrylic
Paper
Free to Come, Free to Go Anomynous 50 X 40 cm (approx.) Ink and Acrylic Paper
Seed in Bloom
Anomynous
63 X 51 cm
Ink and acrylic
Paper
Seed in Bloom Anomynous 63 X 51 cm Ink and acrylic Paper

My work as the artist Anomynous is an experiment of the ideal versus the ego. Through my work I am seeking to communicate a language of proportion based on geometric principles that is not only accessible to the observer, but also challenges them to re-think their preconceived view of reality.

My pieces are designed to seed, grow and animate in the mind’s eye. They are formulas, they are simple principles that are universally familiar and they are reminders of our continued evolution, that this priceless journey of perception and understanding has not yet ended.

Phiral
Anomynous
58.3 X 43 cm
Mounting board (83.5 X 59)
Ink and acrylic
Paper
Phiral Anomynous 58.3 X 43 cm Mounting board (83.5 X 59) Ink and acrylic Paper
Swircle
Anomynous
63 X 51 cm
Ink and acrylic
Paper
Swircle Anomynous 63 X 51 cm Ink and acrylic Paper
Embryone
Anomynous
65 X 50 cm
Ink and acrylic
Paper
Embryone Anomynous 65 X 50 cm Ink and acrylic Paper

Did you study art? If so, where?

I have not had an institutional artistic education; what I know is what has captured my curiosity.

Why do you like Op Art in particular?

I like Op Art as I believe it is one of the few styles that allows for perceptive transgression; it has helped me unlock the way I see the world. What I really love about Op Art is that it is a language of proportions and understanding that language has been a key to my personal evolution as an artist.

Cosmic Sauna House
Anomynous
63 X 51 cm
Ink and acrylic
Paper
Cosmic Sauna House Anomynous 63 X 51 cm Ink and acrylic Paper
Symmevortices
Anomynous
49.5 X 41.5 cm
Ink and acrylic
Paper
Symmevortices Anomynous 49.5 X 41.5 cm Ink and acrylic Paper
Pentacycle
Anomynous
63 X 51 cm
Ink and acrylic/gouache
paper
Pentacycle Anomynous 63 X 51 cm Ink and acrylic/gouache paper

How do you make your art? / What’s the process for making one of your artworks?

I incubate concepts during my time at my non artistic day job, often sketching them out. Later that night I’ll work on handcrafting the concept into a large scale piece. This ‘artisan’ approach involves using a compass (remember those?!), pencils and ruler on paper. I then use ink liners to outline the piece. The final stage is applying acrylic and/or black gouache for the fills.

While it is obvious that digital technology has contributed much to the op art movement, I personally find there is little that can surpass that certain exhilaration of crafting a fully realised piece by hand.

Anonymous - work in progress
Anonymous – work in progress

I have a stage by stage photo method over at my blog for a more detailed review.

Any other art you like and other artists that inspire or have inspired you.

The biggest inspiration for my work is the laws of circle proportion and symmetry; these natural laws have entranced me in a continued deepening exploration.

As for artists, I am inspired by a diverse range of genres and mediums, I am drawn to anyone really who can manifest their emotions into the material world.

I have a heightened respect for masters such as Gaudi, whose work is simply transcendental.

1080 Degree Hyper Piston
Anomynous
59 X 41.7 cm
Ink
Paper
1080 Degree Hyper Piston Anomynous 59 X 41.7 cm Ink Paper
Zeus’ Gift
Anomynous
60 X 50 cm (approx.)
Graphite
Paper
Zeus’ Gift Anomynous 60 X 50 cm (approx.) Graphite Paper
Radials
Anomynous
63 X 51 cm
Ink
Paper
Radials Anomynous 63 X 51 cm Ink Paper

I would love to encourage anyone to learn the simplistic properties of a single radius for themselves and experiment with this boundless power source of raw, creative vibrancy.

You can see more of Anomynous’s work at his website.