Change of the Century

Geysell Capetillo - Frutos de la tierra III 1999

© Copyright S.M.A.K.

7 November 2009 – 21 March 2010

Artificial light has 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 working rhythm has changed and we can continue to be active at home longer. This change in society was caused primarily by the introduction of incandescent lamps. They enabled the arrival of the 24-hour economy.

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, after some major international light art exhibitions had drawn the attention of the art world.

This exhibition showcases works of light art from the 1960s onwards. They 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 environment 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’.

Pier Paolo Calzolari - Senso titolo 1989

© Copyright S.M.A.K.

The exhibition has come about in collaboration with the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K.) from Gent, Belgium.

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