Refract, Reflect, Project: Light Works from the Collection

Installation view of Refract, Reflect, Project: Light Works from the Collection, 2007, at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

February 15 to April 8, 2007
Throughout the history of art, light has been linked to fundamental questions of vision and perception. Refract, Reflect, Project: Light Works from the Collection explored objects in which light—as substance and subject—is central. Encompassing important practices and movements from the latter half of the 20th century to 2007, these works included examples of Minimalism, Kinetic art, immersive environments, experimental film, and Conceptual art. Among the artists featured were Giovanni Anselmo, Chryssa, Dan Flavin, Joseph Kosuth, James Turrell, Adam Peiperl, and Thomas Wilfred. The exhibition also highlighted recent acquisitions by such artists as Olafur Eliasson, Spencer Finch, Christoph Girardet, and Iván Navarro. This exhibition was organized by associate curator Anne Ellegood.