(b 1968South Africa. Lives and works in Pietermaritzburg)
Connor Cullinan’s work is infuenced by 1960s Op art, which introduced the notion of artworks as visual experiences rather than inert objects, in many ways making the viewer’s optical response more important than the actual piece. Similarly, Cullinan’s work invites viewers to engage with his work through prolonged gazing. The works are created by closely set dark and light lines. The visual effect of the strongly contrasting lines sets up a subtle illusion of movement.
“The illusions of movement (and the phantom colours that are fleetingly present) are symptoms of the brain’s visual system, becoming unstable due to conflicting visual stimuli”, says Culinnan.
