Art Of The Day Weekly

Pioneers of kinetic art

PARIS – If you want to live to be old, go into kinetic art! Those who practice this form of art have a remarkable longevity and some of those who took part in the founding exhibition at Denise René Gallery in 1955 are still alive – and remain active. The "patriarch" Vasarely died at the age of 91 in 1997, before Denise René herself, who left us in 2012 at the age of 99. The others? Cruz-Diez, 92 and in great shape; Vera Molnar, 91 years old; Takis, 90 years old; Morellet, 89; Agam, 87; Le Parc, 85 and he received the grand prix of the Venice Biennale 49 years ago… The auction presented at Piasa draws up a balance sheet of this very attractive art, which now fills the main institutions (Dynamo at the Grand Palais, recent retrospectives Le Parc and Takis at the Palais de Tokyo, etc.). Rotating motors, light disks, Plexiglas and neon are also used by less-known artists, especially in Latin countries (Italy, Argentina, Brazil). These works are often produced in multiples and are affordable starting with a few hundred euros to increase undoubtedly until €100 000 for the Excitables E7008 by Sérvulo Esmeraldo.
• Art cinétique – Light Show at Piasa on 25 November 2015.

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