After the ground-breaking relief wall-sculptures of the late 1960's, Vasarely moved away for a time from three-dimensional surfaces to the flat surfaces of canvas and paper.

In the late 1980's he returned to three-dimensional works. As a part of this renewed interest he created a number free-standing geometrical form sculptures with stencil-painted surfaces in kinetic patterning. The combination of the pattern of the colours and the overall geometric form was very influential on the development of this type of geometric abstraction.

His interest in kinematics, optical illusions and playing with perception through a vibrant combination of colours is clear in Tsillag, where Vasarely's accumulation of experience in different artistic mediums and schools culminated in the production of some of his finest sculptures in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Hand-painted acrylic on wood three-dimensional multiple, 1990, signed in ink, from the edition of 175, 61 x 53 x 8 cm. (20¾ x 24 in.)