Op art tricks your brain into seeing movement

Op art, or optical art, uses precise geometric shapes and high-contrast colors to create illusions of movement and depth on flat surfaces. This 1960s art movement, pioneered by artists like Bridget Riley, exploits how our eyes perceive light and shadow. For example, Riley's 'Movement in Squares' makes static black and white squares appear to shift and expand, generating kinetic energy without actual motion. This fascinating technique reveals how easily our brains can be deceived by simple visual cues, blurring the lines between art and science. Prolonged viewing can even cause mild visual discomfort, highlighting art's power to manipulate perception.