Hirshhorn Acquires Works by Ten Artists
March 16, 2015
Eleven Works Added Under Leadership of New Director Melissa Chiu
The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has welcomed 11 new works of art into its permanent collection. The works—painting, photography, video and interactive installation art—have all been acquired since Sept. 29, when Melissa Chiu became the Hirshhorn’s director.
“In this 40th anniversary year, the Hirshhorn continues to expand its holdings, adding vital works by a wide range of international artists, many of them new to the collection,” Chiu said.
Yoko Ono’s video “Sky TV for Washington” (1966/2014) continuously displays a closed-circuit image of the sky outside the museum. On view in “At the Hub of Things: New Views of the Collection,” the work is a museum purchase.
Two paintings by members of Tansaekhwa (Korean Monochrome Movement) are museum purchases. “Untitled 73-7” (1973), by Chung Sang-Hwa, has a cracked pattern that emulates the effect of white porcelain. “Ecriture No. 64-74-77” (1974–77), by Park Seobo, is characterized by repetitive mark-making reminiscent of both writing and drawing.
Paintings by Dan Colen from his “Trash” and “Miracle” series, respectively, “Let’s Spend the Night Together” (2012) and “The Pastoral Symphony” (2012), are a museum purchase with funds provided by Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz and a partial gift of the artist.
Rainer Ganahl’s video “El Mundo” (2013) documents the last days of a discount store in a former theater in Spanish Harlem. It is a gift of Aaron and Barbara Levine.
A history painting by Jane Irish based on a 1970 protest by Vietnam Veterans Against the War, “Operation Rapid Withdrawal Tableau” (2009) is a gift of the Forman Family Foundation.
A group of conceptual photographs derived from commercial colored papers by Dean Kessmann, “Monochrome Fields: Blossom, Khaki, Lake, Papaya, Plum, Curry, Peacock, Poppy, Gravel, Chartreuse, Paper Bag, Gold, Clover, Pool, Persimmon, Cement” (2013) is a gift of the artist.
Part of the “History Images” series of photographs of Chinese cities, “Wangjing Xiyuan Third District, Chaoyang District, Beijing” (2003) is the second work by Sze Tsung Leong to enter the collection. It is a gift of Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Yossi Milo Gallery and the artist.
An interactive installation by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, “Voice Array” (2011) turns recordings of visitors’ voices into a kinetic display of light and sound. It is a gift of Tony Podesta.
Seen at the Hirshhorn in a Black Box exhibition in 2010, “Flooded McDonald’s” (2009), a video by the Danish art collective SUPERFLEX of a full-scale model of a fast-food restaurant interior filling with water, is a museum purchase and a co-acquisition with the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.
About the Hirshhorn
Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is the Smithsonian Institution’s museum of international modern and contemporary art. With nearly 12,000 paintings, sculptures, photographs, mixed-media installations, works on paper and new media works, its holdings encompass one of the leading collections of postwar American and European art. The Hirshhorn presents diverse exhibitions and offers an array of public programs that explore modern and contemporary art. Located at Independence Avenue and Seventh Street S.W., the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission to the galleries and special programs is free. For more information about exhibitions and events, visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Follow the Hirshhorn on Facebook at facebook.com/hirshhorn, on Twitter at twitter.com/hirshhorn, on Tumblr at hirshhorn.tumblr.com and on Instagram at instagram.com/hirshhorn. Or sign up for the museum’s eBlasts at hirshhorn.si.edu/collection/social-media. To request accessibility services, contact Kristy Maruca at marucak@si.edu or (202) 633-2796, preferably two weeks in advance.
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