Marcel Duchamp frequently spoke about a dislike for art that he described as “retinal” art, or art that only appeased the eyes but not the mind. In 1918, he began a series of optical experiments in an effort to create artworks that call upon the brain to enhance, instead of merely process, information received by the eye. These investigations into optical illusion intersected with his interest in mechanical design, leading him to create several motorized devices and a series of disks that would reappear in his work in many forms in the following decades. The Rotoreliefs consist of several motorized apparatuses that Duchamp invented to spin circular plates or disks (made first of glass and later of paper) featuring abstract designs on a horizontal axis. CREATE: Trace and cut a circle out of paper and draw your own Rotorelief design. Take inspiration from Duchamp’s designs or create something new. Test it out on a record player or lazy susan. Share your creation with #HirshhornInsideOut! https://www.instagram.com/hirshhorn https://www.facebook.com/hirshhorn https://twitter.com/hirshhorn https://hirshhorn.si.edu/hirshhorninsideout/
