In Conversation: Living with Duchamp: Barbara and Aaron Levine

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In Conversation: Living with Duchamp: Barbara and Aaron Levine

“Art is no longer a pretty painting to hang above the couch. It’s something to think about … Duchamp changed the meaning of art, the world of art.” —Aaron Levine, The Washington Post DC-based art enthusiasts Barbara and Aaron Levine have had a long relationship with the art of Marcel Duchamp, arguably the most influential artist of the twentieth century. The extraordinary trove of works they have purchased, cared for, and lived with for the last several decades includes more than thirty-five works by Duchamp as well as those by his contemporaries and collaborators, all of which have been promised to the Hirshhorn. Over the next year, this foundational gift will inspire a close examination of Duchamp and his legacy at the Museum, including a two-part exhibition, public programs for all ages, and an extensive publication featuring essays on the promised artworks and major themes related to the artist’s revolutionary ideas. On the eve of opening the exhibition Marcel Duchamp: The Barbara and Aaron Levine Collection, the Levines will join Hirshhorn Director Melissa Chiu in conversation about their obsession with Duchamp, from initial sparks of interest to the point of living with one of the most important collections of art by the most influential artist of the last century.

38 min 21 sec