"I used to build up to sensation, accumulating tension until it released a perceptual experience"

This quote by Bridget Riley talks to the idea of developing a sensory experience through making use of tension. By building up stress, Riley recommends that a person can develop a heightened sense of perception. This could be translated as a metaphor for the creative process, where tension is built up through the accumulation of concepts and strategies up until an end product is launched. It might also be interpreted as a way of producing a physical experience, where tension is built up through the use of noise, light, or other sensory aspects till an increased experience is achieved. In either case, Riley's quote talks to the concept of creating a heightened sense of understanding through using tension.