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Change of the Century November 7th, 2009
Geysell Capetillo - Frutos de la tierra III 1999
© Copyright S.M.A.K.
The exhibition is entitled Change of the Century, inspired by the album Change of the Century by jazz musician Ornette Coleman. The concept of ‘change' that this encompasses refers to such changes as the change in society that was instigated over a century ago by the introduction of incandescent lamps and other forms of artificial light, such as neon. Artificial light has always been a major influence on how society as we know it functions and has helped to mould us into who we are now. It has proven to be an invention with major social implications; our days last longer, our working rhythm has changed and we can also continue to be active at home longer. It enabled the arrival of the 24-hour economy.
Light in art
The influence of artificial light on art was also inevitable and evident. Artists now use light as a sculpting material, like painters use paint or sculptors use bronze. The early forms of this type of ‘light art' came about when artists started to make use of light in this way in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Light art is becoming more popular in new movements in art
Some major international light art exhibitions drew the attention of the art world in the period 1966-1968. The most important practitioners of light art included artists who made use of neon light, such as Dan Flavin. His work is considered to mark the start of the Minimal Art movement, which is characterised by works of art that are composed of simple materials, some of which have been accidentally found. Flavin studied themes that were related to light and space and is mainly famous for his sculptures that integrate neon light.
François Morellet, a French light artist, was one of many others who explored specific aspects of painting and sculpture, such as optical illusions, movement and light in the early 1960s.
Pier Paolo Calzolari - Senso titolo 1989
© Copyright S.M.A.K.
The Italian Arte Povera movement, which originated in about 1967, became known for such artists as Mario Merz and Gilberto Zorio who worked with artificial light. The name Arte Povera refers to the humility in their art, to the unusual materials that these artists used in their installations, assemblies and performances.
Exhibition
Many works that feature in the exhibition are part of one of these movements or refer to them. Other works of art are less easy to define by a specific movement or category. However, a striking aspect that all the selected works have in common is that they intend to change or break with the past.
The works of art are housed in utter darkness, with a minimum of additional lighting. Every work of art has its own, separate source of light and is a beacon in the dark galleries. This creates a story line which forms a mutual connection between the works of art and creates an environmental installation; a changing image that tells a story of an era that may be about to end due to the ban on incandescent lamps. On to the next ‘change'.
Cooperation with S.M.A.K.
The exhibition has come about in collaboration with the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K.) in Gent, Belgium.
S.M.A.K. is renowned internationally for its challenging and influential modern and contemporary art exhibitions. This, combined with the special works of light art featured in the S.M.A.K. collection, was what prompted the Museum Kunstlicht in de Kunst to invite S.M.A.K. for a coproduction.
