Seen from the front, Mural: Virtual Circles is deceivingly static. But with just a slight movement from the viewer, it becomes fully activated, dizzying and alluring at once. Despite the work’s relatively simple construction, it is visually complex, throwing into question the viewer’s own sense of sight, and inviting closer consideration of our own perception.

The work embodies Julio Le Parc’s emphasis on the participatory nature of art. Together with other international artists, Le Parc founded the Groupe de Recherche d’Art Visuel (Group for Visual Art Research, or GRAV). The group experimented with a range of kinetic and optical effects and the use of new materials.

Julio Le Parc's Mural: Virtual Circles is currently on view on the fourth floor of the Art of the Americas Building. Check out LACMA's Collections Online to learn more about this work.

This year marks LACMA's 50th anniversary. We're celebrating all that we've done while looking forward to what's in store for us in the next 50. Check back every week on Unframed to find a highlight of an artwork from LACMA's collection, which features over 120,000 objects that span time, the globe, and all cultures. This is 20/50 of the series.