The artwork titled “Madras,” created by Lino Tagliapietra in 1999, is an exquisite example of sculpture within the Op Art movement. This piece embodies the visual dynamism and optical effects that are characteristic of Op Art, despite the movement typically being associated with two-dimensional works.
The artwork portrays a vertically elongated form, suggesting a teardrop or leaf-like shape, and it appears to possess an intrinsic fluidity and organic grace. The sculpture’s surface is adorned with a complex pattern of stripes that follow the object’s sinuous contours. These stripes are rendered in a warm spectrum of colors, including shades of orange, yellow, red, and interspersed hints of cooler tones, which contribute to the artwork’s vibrant and lively appearance.
The interplay of the linear elements and the curvilinear form of the sculpture creates an impression of movement and depth. The delicate textural details, possibly achieved through meticulous glassworking techniques, enhance the optical experience, inviting the viewer’s eye to travel along the surface and discover the subtleties of light and shadow cast by the sculpture’s shape and ornamentation.
As a three-dimensional representation within the realm of Op Art, “Madras” exemplifies how sculptural form can be integrated with optical complexity to produce a captivating visual experience that transcends the confinement of the canvas, engaging the viewer in a tactile and perceptual dialogue with the work.
