Something rare has arrived at Tate Modern – an art exhibition that’s fun to look at. No earnest angst or difficult to understand languages – just plain unadulterated fun.
Rooms filled with dancing lights and bright colours are the work of Argentinian artist Julio Le Parc, who died just last month after a 70-year career. It opens with his geometric art, though some of the larger pieces work better if you stand back, which can be a challenge in the narrow corridor where they’re displayed. Although they look like prints, they’re actually hand-painted, not printed.
The real fun starts now though, as his light sculptures come into view.
From modest-sized boxes to large installations with vibrating lights and flickering metallic plates, many of the works are mixes of optical illusions with mirrors and lights that delight and fascinate. A rotated square with regimented patterns of light could easily have come from any science fiction show.
The final display is a collection of geometric paintings, many of which strongly reminded me of the Windows 95 screensavers.
Overall, it’s just a fun exhibition to visit.
A niggle is that the opening area is very small and, being also very dark, easy to bump into people.
The exhibition, Julio Le Parc Light. Colour. Action, is at Tate Modern until May 2027.
- Standard Ticket: £15
- Child 12-18: £5
- Tate Collective – 16-25 Only: £5
- Under 12s – Valid With Adult Ticket Holders Onl : Free
- Concessions: £14
- National Art Pass: £7.50
Details here.