Visual Phenomena

Marcel Duchamp was the man of many techniques.  Although he is not he only Dada artist who seemed to move from technique to technique, the pieces he presented in each style were such radical compositions.  So overall he is covered through multiple areas of study.  He did play in different outputs, sometimes even collaborating with other artists.  One of his closest colleagues, Man Ray, who was developing in the world of photography and film, worked with him on his workings of Kinetic art.

Rotative plaques verre, optique de précision

Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp 1920

Kinetic Art is art that contains movement in order to have an effect.  These moving parts are operated in various ways.  The first object of kinetic art is considered the Bicycle Wheel (1913) by Duchamp. (This object was also the first ready-made.)  In this case, the movement was controlled by the viewer.  One could spin the wheel, gazing through.  Currently in its location in the MoMA, touching the piece is forbidden, taking away one of the most important elements Duchamp wanted to create with it.


In 1920, he began working with Man Ray, creating a motorized example of kinetic art titled Rotative plaques verre, optique de précision.  This was a sculpture that involved a rectangular support of glass that was painted the segments of the circle.  The motor spun the glass creating an optical illusion.  Duchamp referred to this illusion as a visual phenomena.  

Wings to the Heavens David Ascalon 2008


This first example of kinetic art went on to influence many movements that followed Dada.  In the 1960's-70's different artists began to experiment with different sculptures that involved movement.  Some of these came in the form of mobiles, like those of Alexander Calder in the late 1950's, and even more recent mobiles being installed in 2008 by David Ascalon.  The mobiles are an example of an evolution in the field of kinetic art.  


Artists also began to play around with light and movement, being called Lumino kinetic art.  Light plays an important role in the way that the movements create different illusions.  This is seen as an example of art that has embraced the technological age that grew in the 20th century.