Carlos Cruz-Diez

by Mari Carmen Ramirez and Hector Olea

Published 1 March 2011
Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez (born 1923) is one of the greatest artistic innovators of the 20th and 21st centuries. Best known for experimenting with light and movement, and for stimulating the dialogue between the stable and unstable use of colour, his pieces engage viewers on a multisensory level. Through the use of unconventional materials, Cruz-Diez strives to create art that is sophisticated in construction and theory while also accessible to viewers. Combining the principles of kinetic art (sculptured works that have an aspect of motion) with colour theory, optics, machine engineering, digital printing technologies, and the painter's craft, Cruz-Diez's works defy standard categorization. This monumental volume traces the full trajectory of the artist's career, from early, rarely published figurative works, to interactive series that continue to this day, to architectural projects in public spaces around the world. This book features an essay, an interview with Cruz-Diez, a selection of his own writings, texts by three early champions of his work, and an illustrated chronology.