“Fission,” created by Bridget Riley in 1963, is a seminal work in the Op Art movement, executed with tempera on board. This abstract piece is housed in the esteemed Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork is an exemplary representation of optical illusion and dynamic motion characteristic of the Op Art movement. Featuring a meticulous arrangement of black dots on a white background, the piece generates a riveting visual experience through the precise variation in dot size and spacing. The dots grow progressively larger and smaller, creating an illusion of waves and a central fissure, drawing the viewer into a seemingly pulsating and undulating field. This calculated manipulation of form and perception engages the viewer, challenging the static nature of the medium and emphasizing Riley’s mastery in invoking kinetic energy within a flat plane.
