Page 35 - Studio Interantional - May 1967

Two paintings of 1955-60: left, a painting of 1955, Yablapour,
40+ x 44+ ., and, right, a work of 1960

society in which we live while preparing its downfall. aspects of a work of art but in the indestructible radiation
The important thing is that my ideas should prevail. of ideas about art which are inextricably intertwined
Purity is impossible. We live in ambiguous times from with the future of our human adventure.'
which we cannot escape. It wouldn't matter if all my This helps to clarify Vasarely's profound concern, his
work should vanish. If all Descartes' books were burned, horizontal flight through space and matter, his quasi-
would Cartesianism be finished ? Survival is not a mania to have done with the unique and the individual
question of quietly unloading one's name on posterity as if they, in their isolation, were more vulnerable to
but of contributing something new which will spread annihilation—as if only by cellular division, abundance
capilliary-wise through the present and the future and and progress could we escape degeneration and death.
affect the minds of men. Inevitably as time passes my First, he rejects realistic subjects such as landscapes and
creative urge will die down. One spends one's life justi- models; then a personal style of painting, replacing it with
fying one's work and then one day it is the work which ruler and compasses; then the unique work, which he
justifies you. It becomes known and affects others. It reproduces ad infinitum for use in architecture; then the
rouses consciences. Of course one has to die but there is logical consequences—the disappearance of collections,
consolation in leaving something behind. Hundreds of even of individual works of art, in favour of a diffuse,
people have felt my influence and have absorbed ideas abstract influence in the one domain where time is in-
which happen to be mine and which appeal them. When effectual, in the present and future minds of men.
anyone stole one of Le Corbusier's ideas, he would call With such ideas it is not difficult to imagine the irony
him a dirty thief. But I am delighted. The new man must or even scorn with which Vasarely regards those of his
be generous. More than a thousand of my works are in fellow painters who stick to more traditional ideas,
circulation and their off-spring are varied. Other painters believing that they can escape time and create beauty
see them and some are inspired to go on where I left off; like Rembrandt or Vermeer with an easel picture. 'What
others are provoked to argument and rejection and try a has become of the muse which inspires these worthy souls
different approach. This too is a way of affecting the in the harsh light of biochemistry and genetics ?' he asks.
future. Here we have the real answer, the real revenge on `Believe me, the "apprentice" and "inspired Bohemian"
the tragedy of ageing and death. Today we are aware styles which hide their material success under a chequered
that our victory is not in the ephemeral and material shirt are definitely out. When you listen to Giaccometti