Julio Le Parc

The Argentine artist Julio Le Parc experiments with geometric abstraction, light, and perception and is one of the pioneers in both Op Art and Kinetic Art. After studying at the School of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, he became interested in the Arte Concreto-Invenci-13n group and Lucio Fontana's Spazialismo movement. In 1958, Le Parc moved to Paris with fellow artist Francisco Sobrino on a scholarship from the French government.
In 1959, Le Parc started working on his geometric abstract paintings based on predetermined systems, initially in black and white, and later in color. Le Parc works with painting, sculpture, installations, and much more – he manipulates chromatic color palettes, explores negative space, and subtle interactions between light and shadow. Many of his works appear to vibrate, and some consist of literal moving parts. Le Parc has embraced utopian ideals throughout his artistic career. Together with artists like Hugo Demarco and François Morellet, he founded the Groupe de Recherche d'Art Visuel (1960-68), which promoted art as a means of collective creation and encouraged public participation.
Le Parc describes the concept behind "The surface color series," of which the current painting is a part: "I wanted them [colors] to be pure, not spoiled by black and white. I forbade myself to use any colors I didn't choose from the start. The limited 14 colors seemed to resume all the possible variations of the chromatic mixtures. From this scale of 14 colors, I started to make simple mixtures from one or two shades going horizontally, vertically, and in diagonal. Those mixtures born from a simple and strict system were multiple. Later I invented a small machine with transparent tapes where all my shades of colors could appear. Switching them, I could have an incredible choice of mixture. I was impressed by the quantity of possible changes included in each program. I was keen to imagine all the variations succeeding in time, and the probabilities were leading me to a new phenomenon: the limitless duration. Each painting made with any combination was a special moment with ever-changing movement and colors." (Julio Le Parc, 2006)
Le Parc has exhibited in New York, London, Paris, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, São Paulo, and Rome. His works are part of the collections at the Museum of Modern Art, Tate, Centre Pompidou, Guggenheim Museum, Museo Reina Sofía, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Buenos Aires, and Museum Ludwig, among others.