Directions: Jim Lambie

Installation view of Jim Lambie’s Zobop, 2006, at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

May 13 to October 4, 2006
Walking into one of Jim Lambie’s Zobop striped taped floor pieces is like entering a giant painting. As part of the Hirshhorn’s continuing efforts to give visitors opportunities to experience new works of art, Turner Prize finalist Lambie (b. Glasgow, Scotland, 1964) transformed the Museum’s lobby into a vibrant, colorful, and immersive environment. The artist meticulously adhered vinyl tape to the floor in a geometric pattern that responded to the building’s architecture. The floor was further enhanced by a group of sculptures – three new pieces made onsite using existing elements and materials found in thrift stores, markets, and pawn shops throughout Washington.

Lambie’s interest in “making edges disappear” breaks down the divisions between sculpture and other media. As a musician and DJ, he often creates work explicitly related to music that strives to replicate the experience of being transported by a favorite song. This Directions project, organized by associate curator Anne Ellegood, was the first presentation of Jim Lambie’s work in Washington. The Directions series was made possible by Ray Graham III and the Trellis Fund. In-kind support generously provided by Hyatt Arlington.

Selected Press

Summary of Select Major Press, Multiple Media Outlets: April 2006 to October 2006 (PDF)

About the Directions Series
Since its opening in 1974, the Hirshhorn has been committed to providing a platform for the artists of today. Directions, established in 1979 as a group installation and transformed in 1987 to highlight the work of a single artist or paired artists, has been a longstanding hallmark of the Museum’s exhibition program and partnership with living artists. Bringing a diverse range of emerging and established artists from around the world to Washington, the series provides a prominent space on the National Mall for new work and new ideas.