Zèbres-A

Victor Vasarely

Vasarely is the undisputed father of Op art, responsible for transforming the two dimensional planes of art history into fluid, kinetic, mesmerizing works. By the 1970s, his style of optical trickery was everywhere, gracing the covers of David Bowie albums and the bonnets of Renault cars. But in 1938, Vasarely was still a young, unknown member of the Bauhaus school and it was the zebra that gave him his entry into a brave new world of art-making. The monochromatic markings spoke to Vasarely, the undulation of form that contorted perspective offered him a way of thinking about flat planes. His style quickly developed away from the zebras into increasingly complicated, geometric forms of illusion. But here, in the simple fight of equine figures, he laid the foundation of a new dimension.

Saturday 17th October

The Moon moves through Sagittarius, bringing the element of fire into our reflections on the autumn garden. In the biodynamic calendar, this sign is associated with fruit and seed, turning our attention towards gathering the last ripe fruits and bringing mature squash indoors to cure and store. As we harvest, we can reflect on what has ripened in our own lives and what we hope to carry into the coming season. Sagittarius, pictured as the archer, invites a sense of direction and purpose. Where are we placing our energy, and what do we want to nurture next? We might gather seeds for next year, prepare a bed for spring, or pause to imagine the garden’s future. Above us, a slender crescent Moon makes itself known amongst the bright stars of the autumn sky, inviting us to lift our gaze beyond the work at our feet.