The Groupe de Recherche d’Art Visuel [Visual Arts Research Group], better known as GRAV, was founded in 1960 by some Argentine artists and some who lived in Paris. Among them were: Julio Le Parc, Horacio García Rossi, Hugo Demarco, Francisco Sobrino, François Morellet, Joël Stein, and Yvaral. The group’s intention was to do artistic research into lighting, chromatic, and optical effects. Ver y estimar [Observe and Ponder] magazine was published by Jorge Romero Brest (1905–89) with the support of a group of his students. It evolved from the art history courses that Romero Brest began teaching after he was dismissed from his teaching duties by official minions representing the first regime (1946-55) of Juan Domingo Perón (1895–1974). The magazine stimulated critical thought and encouraged a renewal of artistic languages in keeping with its director’s modern outlook. It was published thirty-four times, between April 1948 and December 1953. Publication was interrupted for a few months, then, ten more issues appeared during its second phase, which lasted until October 1955. Damián Carlos Bayón (1915–95) was the editor-in-chief. He went on to teach in Mexico City and Paris, where he spent the latter part of his life. This exhibition—which was presented at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes—preceded both Julio Le Parc’s solo exhibition at the Torcuato Di Tella Institute, organized after he was awarded the prize at the Venice Biennial in 1966, and the Horacio García Rossi presentation, which was also held at the Institute.
