Fragments in Time and Space

Douglas Gordon, Play Dead; Real Time, 2003, from the Hirshhorn collection

June 23 to August 28, 2011
Since the beginnings of Modernism, issues of time and space have been central to art in all media, from the fragmentation of space in Cubism and the depiction of speed in Futurism to the manipulation of these elements made possible through cinematic techniques. For many contemporary artists, these universal notions persist as crucial themes. Fragments in Time and Space drew primarily on the Hirshhorn’s collection to present works by artists such as Thomas Eakins, Douglas Gordon, On Kawara, Richard Long, Ed Ruscha, Hiroshi Sugimoto, and Mark Tobey that demonstrate the diverse ways in which time and space have been conceptualized, employed, and manipulated. Using a range of both direct and indirect approaches, the pieces in the exhibition encouraged viewers to focus on and reconsider the way they perceive and experience the world—from a single moment in time to an idea of the infinite.