Carlos Cruz-Diez

The Venezuelan artist (Venezuela, 1923 – Paris, 2019), who later acquires French nationality, is considered one of the most relevant artists of optical and kinetic art. During his career, he carried out eight investigations focused on color. This is the reason it can be said that Cruz-Diez is one of the color thinkers of the 20th century. 

Color is the foundation of these investigations, their behavior and how they convey different sensations to the viewer: Couleur Additive, Physichromie, Induction Chromatique, Chromointerférence Transchromie, Chromosaturation, Chromoscope y Couleur dans l’espace.

Career

His career began in Venezuela, where he graduated from the School of Fine Arts. He worked as an illustrator and graphic designer, later on, he was designated creative director of the advertising agency McCann-Erickson Venezuela. In 1954 he began to be interested in abstract art and made some pieces with geometric elements.

In 1955 he moved with his family to Barcelona – Spain. Latter in 1959, he went back to Venezuela, and made his first investigation Couleur Additive and Physichromie.

He decided to move to Paris in 1960, this important step determined his career. Later, he would hold important exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Center Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo in Brazil, and The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, among others.

Then in 1996, The Carlos Cruz-Diez Museum was built in his native Venezuela. Finally in 2005, his family created The Cruz-Diez Art Foundation, in order to disseminate and preserve the rich work that the artist produced during his life. 

Research

Cruz-Diez focused his work on color. In his investigations, he dissociated color from the form, and put his ideas to the test. The works were made up of metallic strips to which he gave color. The color was autonomous, the displacement of light throughout the day, and the viewer made his works have movement. Colors that appear to human eyes even when they are not there. The viewer is the one who gives meaning to these wonderful works.

Cruz-Diez developed his own style, evolving over time. The artist’s work is intertwined with architecture and urbanism.

There are several places in the world that have his works. Couleur Additive in Liverpool is one of many examples of his work in urban spaces.

“Color is an autonomous fact that exists without the need for form”. Carlos Cruz-Diez.

My experience

Cruz-Diez’s artworks are part of Venezuelan architecture and urbanism. I grew up around several of his works. The one that most marked my childhood and my university years were the Cromosaturación Ondulante, a circular work with the artist’s characteristic handling of color. At each point, you feel that the work is changing color, so it flows with you as you keep walking.

I hope this reading has filled you with color and with the desire to continue knowing more about this wonderful artist.

Sources:

https://www.macba.com.ar/coleccion/artistas/123-cruz-diez-carlos

http://www.cruz-diez.com/es/biografia/

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Cruz-Diez

https://emuseum.mfah.org/search/cruz-diez

https://www.coleccionbbva.com/es/pintura/p00202-physichromie-n-o-763/