WHAT? Julio Le Parc: Light. Colour. Action

WHERE? Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG

WHEN? Now until 3rd May 2027

WHY GO? For a psychedelic trip. Button up and wear shades, for this is an exhibition that might be migraine-inducing for those with weak dispositions. To others, it’s a dazzling excursion into the creative mind of Argentinian artist Le Parc, who is famed for interactive installations with the ‘wow’ factor.

He is said to have changed the perception of what art actually is and has exhibited in numerous international biennials and collaborated with global brands like Hermès on their exclusive Éditeur silk scarf project.

Over a career spanning some 70 years, Le Parc’s visionary optical illusions have ranged from kaleidoscopic paintings to kinetic artworks that are mesmerising.

As a precursor to his optical world, his striking large-scale installation, Continual Light Mobile 2026, greets visitors in the entrance hall of the Blavatnik Building before they head up into the major exhibition, where it’s sensory overload with shimmering rotating artworks that seemingly spring to life once encountered.

The Paris-based Le Parc, creatively known as the Father of Interactive Art, worked well into his nineties, sadly passing away at the age of 97 just two weeks before this major retrospective, which he would undoubtedly have appreciated as a tribute to his pioneering, joyful kinetic art.

IN THE KNOW Tech-savvy fans can learn more about how creatives like Le Parc fuse art with innovative technology. Tate Modern is staging a Research Day, The Evolving Studio: Artists Working with Technology, on 26th September. Check online for full programme information.