To mark the 120th anniversary of the birth of pioneering Op Art artist Victor Vasarely, the Fondation Vasarely in Aix-en-Provence commissioned a special audiovisual event celebrating his enduring artistic legacy. The event featured a live performance by Zságer Balázs , for which I created a generative, audio-reactive visual set developed in TouchDesigner.
The visual composition was conceived as a contemporary interpretation of Vasarely’s artistic philosophy rather than a direct reproduction of individual works. Drawing from the fundamental principles that define his practice: geometric abstraction, optical perception, spatial ambiguity, repetition, and the generation of movement through static forms, the visuals translated key aspects of his visual language into a time-based medium.
Presented entirely in black and white, the work deliberately embraced a reduced visual palette in order to foreground the perceptual mechanisms at the core of Vasarely’s oeuvre. Through the interplay of contrast, rhythm, density, and geometric transformation, the imagery explored the instability of visual perception, creating continuously shifting optical phenomena that echoed the immersive and kinetic qualities of Op Art.
The visuals were driven by real-time audio-reactive processes, allowing the evolving geometric compositions to respond directly to the sonic structure, intensity, and texture of the live performance. This continuous dialogue between sound and image reinforced the perceptual dynamism that lies at the heart of Vasarely’s artistic vision.
Fondation Vasarely / Aix-en Provence 2026
