Zilah II

1951

The “Denfert” period: the white tiles of the metro

“Denfert” refers to the works influenced by the white tiled walls of the Paris metro station Denfert–Rochereau.

1951–1955

“Le Mouvement” at the Denise René gallery

Kinetic art flourishes: works by Vasarely, Calder, Duchamp, Man Ray, Soto and Tinguely are exhibited at the Denise René gallery under the title “Le Mouvement”.

1951–1955

Kinetic pictures from layered panes

From his Gordes works he develops kinetic pictures: superimposed acrylic glass panes create a dynamic impression that shifts with the viewpoint; in the black-white period he combines the frames into a single pane by transposing photographs into two colours.

1955

The “Yellow Manifesto”

In 1955 Vasarely publishes his “Yellow Manifesto”, in effect the programme of Op art: building on the research of the constructivists and Bauhaus pioneers, he postulates that visual kinetics relies on the perception of the viewer, considered the sole creator, who plays with optical illusions.

1955

Prizes in Brussels, Milan and Venezuela

In 1955 Vasarely receives the Art Critics Prize in Brussels, the Gold Medal of Milan and the International Painting Prize of Venezuela.

16 de julho de 1955 – 18 de setembro de 1955

Exhibition: documenta