Op Art – The Optical Art style focuses on the impact on the viewer’s sense of sight, not on his intellect or emotions. Works frequently cause optical illusions. Artists are using abstract combinations of forms, light effects, dynamic and textural effects, aimed at evoking the impression of depth and movement by vibrating the field of view.
Op art is often otherwise known as visualism. Op art is a unique variety of abstract art. It affects the way the viewer perceives the image. Influencing the viewers’ intellect or emotions is of less importance. In his “Metamorphopsia” series, Vidal Toreyo uses optical illusions and light effects. Additionally, the unique painting technique used by the artist evokes the impression of depth and vibrating movement when viewed up close.
Vidal Toreyo draws the viewer into a game of illusions, simulates the spaciousness of the image. What distinguishes Toreyo from other Op-art painters is the departure from the mathematical nature of the idea. The artist avoids geometry, claiming that there is no straight line in nature, there is no order. Its task is to confuse and surprise the human eye.
Toreyo asks the questions: Do we all see everything the same or do our perceptions differ? Our brain, our nervous system can make us see differently, if only because of visual impairment. This is due to the central nervous system, which is involved in the transmission, modality and analysis of visual stimuli. The objects seen are perceived as changed, but in such a way that the object is still recognizable, although it appears to have properties different from the real ones. Toreyo studies an optical disorder known to science as metamorphopsia. Metamorphopsia means that perceived objects may be in a different place than they really are. The world can be brighter, more expressive, and the result is an Op-art image with unique features. Deformations can change the size of viewed objects, distances and proportions. Multiplications of elements may appear. It is also characteristic for the visual image to shimmer or glow, for the objects to change color or single-color vision.
Op-art is often otherwise known as visualism. Op-art is a very unique variety of abstraction, it is an art direction whose task is to influence the viewer’s vision. Influencing the viewers’ intellect or emotions is of less importance. This direction belongs to the trend of abstract painting. In his works of the Mirage series, Bartos Saro uses optical illusions and light effects. Additionally, the unique painting technique used by the artist when viewed closely, creates the impression of depth and vibrating movement.
Optical illusions occur as a result of the brain misinterpreting the image under the influence of contrast, shadows, and the use of colors. This phenomenon causes the brain to be mistaken automatically. In other words, delusions arise from the automatic mechanisms of perception that usually aid perception. Therefore under certain conditions, however, they can be misleading.
Additionally, the occurrence of optical illusions is influenced by the cultural context. Our mind learns pattern behaviors, which is why it sometimes interprets phenomena unexpectedly. It can be an interesting tool in creating works of art.
