“Every image embodies a way of seeing” wrote the British art critic John Berger in his seminal text “Ways of Seeing” (1972).
The way of seeing Julie Oppermann’s works is enigmatic, inviting the viewer to reflect on his or her perceptual relation to the world. An encounter with the artist’s paintings and videos is primarily an intense physical experience. In playing with the dynamics of visual perception, the studied neuroscientist captures our immediate sensorial attention, penetrating deeply into the heart of emotion and consciousness.
Oppermann creates visual illusions using moiré patterns. She superimposes wavy lines, rows of circles, and other repetitive geometric figures to create an intense sense of depth and movement in an image that essentially falls completely flat. What arises is a vibrant structural equilibrium that pulsates before the viewer’s eyes in vivid color combinations. At first glance, Julie Oppermann’s paintings may seem irritating but then they exert an invigorating, even liberating effect.
