Abraham Palatnik is a central figure in the Optical and Kinetic art movements of Brazil — a pioneer for his long-standing interest for exploring the creative possibilities coming from the intersection of art and technology. While he originally studied engineering, he became interested in investigating mechanical uses of light and movement. In 1949, he rose to prominence with the creation of his first Aparelho Cinecromático, which effectively reinvented the idea of a painting by using different voltage bulbs moving at different speeds and directions to create kaleidoscopic images. He is considered a pioneer of technological art in Brazil for his early use of mechanical systems and light.