Meaning: Bridget Riley is an English painter known for her op art, or optical art, which uses geometric patterns to create visual illusions and sensations of movement. The quote, "I used to build up to sensation, accumulating tension until it released a perceptual experience," provides insight into Riley's artistic process and her approach to creating art that stimulates the viewer's perception.

In this quote, Riley describes her method of building up tension within her artwork to ultimately evoke a perceptual experience in the viewer. This approach aligns with the principles of op art, where the careful arrangement of shapes, colors, and lines creates visual effects that challenge the viewer's perception and create a sense of movement or vibration. By building up tension within her compositions, Riley is able to guide the viewer's experience and create a heightened perceptual awareness.

Riley's use of "sensation" and "perceptual experience" in the quote indicates her focus on engaging the viewer on a sensory level. Her work often elicits visceral reactions and optical effects that play with the viewer's visual perception. Through the deliberate accumulation of tension, Riley sets the stage for a release that results in a powerful perceptual experience for the viewer.

Riley's artistic process involves a meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of how visual elements interact to create optical effects. Her compositions are carefully structured to manipulate the viewer's perception, leading to an immersive and dynamic viewing experience. The quote suggests that Riley's approach is not simply about creating visually striking images, but about harnessing the power of visual tension to elicit a profound perceptual response from the viewer.

Furthermore, the quote provides insight into the temporal dimension of Riley's art. By "accumulating tension until it released a perceptual experience," Riley hints at the idea of temporal progression within her artworks. The buildup of tension suggests a gradual process, leading to a climactic release that results in a perceptual experience for the viewer. This temporal element adds a dynamic and kinetic quality to her work, as the viewer's experience unfolds over time, evolving as they engage with the artwork.

Riley's quote also speaks to the transformative nature of her art. The process of accumulating tension and releasing perceptual experiences mirrors the transformative journey that viewers undergo when engaging with her work. The visual tension built up within her compositions ultimately leads to a transformative perceptual experience for the viewer, challenging their preconceived notions of space, form, and movement.

In summary, Bridget Riley's quote provides valuable insight into her artistic process and the principles that underpin her op art creations. Through the deliberate accumulation of tension and the subsequent release of perceptual experiences, Riley's work captivates and challenges the viewer, inviting them to experience a dynamic and transformative engagement with visual sensation and perception.