Touring Robert Irwin's Minimalist Marfa Masterpiece "Dawn to Dusk" | Artbound | KCET

00:04:52
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgXeWyOd6LU

Summary

TLDRSimms shares a vivid account of navigating a unique building, emphasizing the interplay of light and space. Initially entering the darker East Wing, visitors encounter intricate light diffraction causing blue and red sparkles. As one progresses to the Southern section and then the bright Western Wing, the experience shifts dramatically, especially notable at sunset when the area is vividly illuminated. Simms highlights that the journey through the building offers constant new experiences, aligning with Irwin's philosophy that art lies in the ongoing, dynamic interaction between one's movement and the space, rather than just the visual elements themselves.

Takeaways

  • 🌌 The East Wing feels darker and smoky with intricate light effects.
  • 🌿 Movement through the building creates a dynamic experience.
  • 🌅 The Western Wing's lighting, especially at sunset, is breathtaking.
  • 🌈 Irwin emphasizes art as an experience, not just a visual.
  • 👣 Every journey through the building offers new discoveries.
  • 🏙️ The Southern part of the building connects the two wings.
  • ✨ Light diffraction creates engaging visual elements.
  • 🔄 Returning through the building brings a fresh perspective.
  • 🔎 Irwin's philosophy highlights forward movement as essential.
  • 🎨 The art lies in the interaction between the visitor and space.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:04:52

    In this narration, Simms describes his experience navigating an art installation where the journey through space plays a crucial role in the perception of the artwork. As he moves through different wings of a building, the darker east wing with black scrims initiates a mysterious experience with smoky light diffractions. This contrasts with the transition into the lighter south and west wings characterized by bright light and white scrims, especially striking at sunset. Simms emphasizes that as one traverses the installation forward and backward, each experience unfolds differently, embodying the artist Irwin's concept that the true art lies in the viewer's dynamic interaction and unique, evolving perception of the space.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • Who is Simms?

    Simms is the person describing their experience in the video.

  • What happens when moving through the East Wing?

    The East Wing feels darker and smoky with a diffraction of light creating blue and red sparkles.

  • What is unique about the experience in the Western Wing?

    The Western Wing is bright and almost blinding, especially at sunset, creating a dramatic visual effect.

  • How does the experience in the building change upon returning?

    Returning through the building offers a new experience and discoveries, emphasizing constant forward movement.

  • What is the significance of movement according to Irwin?

    For Irwin, art is about the experience and interaction one has while moving through the building, not just the static visual elements.

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  • 00:00:05
    SIMMS: THE FIRST TIME I WENT
  • 00:00:06
    AFTER THE PIECE HAD BEEN
  • 00:00:08
    COMPLETED, I BEGAN TURNING
  • 00:00:09
    LEFT...
  • 00:00:18
    AND THAT TOOK ME INTO THE EAST
  • 00:00:20
    WING, WHICH IS THE DARKER WING.
  • 00:00:23
    AND THERE'S THAT LONG DOUBLE
  • 00:00:26
    SCRIM, THE BLACK ONE, ON THAT
  • 00:00:27
    SIDE.
  • 00:00:38
    WHAT YOU WIND UP SEEING IN
  • 00:00:39
    THERE OR FEELING--IT'S MORE
  • 00:00:41
    THAN SEEING. IT'S A WHOLE KIND
  • 00:00:42
    OF EMBODIED ENCOUNTER THAT
  • 00:00:45
    TAKES PLACE. BECAUSE IT WAS
  • 00:00:47
    THIS DARKER WING, IT STARTED TO
  • 00:00:48
    FEEL VERY SMOKY TO ME SOMEHOW.
  • 00:01:04
    AS YOU MOVE DOWN, YOU START TO
  • 00:01:06
    SEE THESE SUBTLE INTERESTING
  • 00:01:08
    KINDS OF--I GUESS THIS
  • 00:01:09
    DIFFRACTION OF LIGHT IN THE
  • 00:01:12
    SCRIMS, WHICH CREATES THE
  • 00:01:14
    IMPRESSION OF BLUE AND RED KIND
  • 00:01:16
    OF APPEARING AND KIND OF LIKE
  • 00:01:17
    ZAPPING HERE AND THERE, JUST
  • 00:01:19
    SPARKLING IN THE SCRIM...
  • 00:01:28
    AND SO BECAUSE EVERYTHING
  • 00:01:30
    IS STRIPPED DOWN SO
  • 00:01:31
    MUCH, THESE LITTLE
  • 00:01:32
    EVENTS MATTER, YOU START TO PAY
  • 00:01:34
    ATTENTION TO THAT, AND AS YOU
  • 00:01:37
    MOVE ALONG, YOU'RE LOOKING OUT
  • 00:01:39
    THE WINDOWS. BECAUSE YOU'RE
  • 00:01:42
    WALKING AND MOVING, BECAUSE
  • 00:01:45
    THERE'S ALWAYS A WINDOW
  • 00:01:47
    SOMEWHERE IN YOUR FIELD
  • 00:01:48
    OF VISION, THINGS OUTSIDE
  • 00:01:51
    ARE CHANGING AS YOU MOVE.
  • 00:02:06
    SO THE MOVEMENT INTO THE BACK,
  • 00:02:09
    INTO THE SOUTH, NOW YOU TURN
  • 00:02:12
    AND YOU MOVE THROUGH THESE
  • 00:02:13
    PORTALS...
  • 00:02:51
    AND THEN, THERE'S THIS AMAZING,
  • 00:02:54
    ALMOST BLINDING EXPERIENCE OF
  • 00:02:55
    LIGHT BECAUSE YOU'RE MOVED
  • 00:02:56
    TOWARDS THE WHITE SCRIMS, THOSE
  • 00:02:58
    PORTALS THAT TAKE YOU INTO THAT
  • 00:02:59
    LIGHT WESTERN WING...
  • 00:03:12
    WHERE THE STUCCO'S A LITTLE
  • 00:03:14
    LIGHTER, WHERE THERE'S NO
  • 00:03:15
    WINDOW TINTING, AND WHERE THERE
  • 00:03:16
    IS THIS WHITE DOUBLE SCRIM, AND
  • 00:03:22
    THEN, COMING DOWN THE LIGHT
  • 00:03:24
    SIDE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE AT
  • 00:03:26
    SUNSET THERE--BECAUSE THE IDEA
  • 00:03:28
    IS THAT'S THE DUSK, THAT'S THE
  • 00:03:30
    SIDE WHICH IS THE SUNSET
  • 00:03:31
    SIDE--THE PLACE JUST LIGHTS UP.
  • 00:03:33
    IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
  • 00:03:58
    THEN, LET'S SAY, YOU TURN
  • 00:03:59
    AROUND AND WALK BACK. IT'S NOT
  • 00:04:01
    AS THOUGH YOU'RE JUST REPEATING
  • 00:04:02
    YOUR STEPS. IT'S A WHOLE NEW
  • 00:04:04
    KIND OF UNFOLDING THING WHERE
  • 00:04:06
    YOU HAVE NEW DISCOVERIES, AND
  • 00:04:08
    SO THAT'S WHERE YOU GET THAT
  • 00:04:10
    OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE ARTIST
  • 00:04:12
    BECAUSE FOR IRWIN THE ART IS
  • 00:04:14
    NOT WHAT YOU SEE THERE. IT'S
  • 00:04:16
    WHAT'S HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, IN
  • 00:04:18
    YOUR EXPERIENCE AS YOU MOVE
  • 00:04:19
    THROUGH IT, AND YOU GO THIS
  • 00:04:20
    WAY, AND THEN YOU MOVE BACK THE
  • 00:04:23
    OTHER WAY. IT'S ALWAYS
  • 00:04:25
    DIFFERENT, EVEN IF ONLY SUBTLY.
  • 00:04:27
    SO THAT FOR IRWIN MOVING BACK
  • 00:04:29
    AND FORTH IN THIS BUILDING IS
  • 00:04:32
    A CONSTANT FORWARD STEPPING.
  • 00:04:35
    THERE'S NO POINT IN WHICH
  • 00:04:36
    YOU'RE REPEATING YOUR STEPS.
  • 00:04:37
    YOU'RE TAKING FORWARD
  • 00:04:38
    STEPS ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
Tags
  • Simms
  • Irwin
  • building
  • light
  • experience
  • movement
  • art
  • interaction
  • space
  • East Wing
  • Western Wing