Robert Irwin: Untitled (Dawn to Dusk), 2016
The Chinati Foundation, Marfa, TX
Opening July 23, 2016
Production | Publication Grant
The Chinati Foundation presented a much-anticipated addition to its permanent collection — a new large-scale installation by Robert Irwin which opened in 2016. After years of development, the project — a large, U-shaped construction approximately 10,000 sq. ft. — is the only freestanding structure designed by Irwin and devoted exclusively to his work. The artist is widely recognized as one of the most innovative and respected artists of our time. Irwin’s project is the first major addition to the museum’s permanent collection since the 2004 opening of a gallery devoted to the paintings of John Wesley, another artist long admired by founder Donald Judd.
This installation is an artwork in the form of a building with an interior installation. It is situated on the site of the former hospital for Fort D.A. Russell at the edge of Chinati’s grounds on the outskirts of Marfa. Irwin’s design follows the footprint of the existing structure and preserves elements particular to it. The work is experienced in halves, with one side of the building dark and the other light. His subtle interventions enhance the visual experience and include the use of long, transparent scrim walls in black and white, as well as window films that manipulate and frame the changing light conditions that occur throughout the course of the day.
To learn more, visit The Chinati Foundation.
Images: Fort D.A. Russell Hospital site, Marfa, TX; Robert Irwin, Untitled (Four Walls), 2006, special exhibition at the Chinati Foundation, Marfa, TX.
