I was really fascinated by Robert Irwin’s work and the way his “final goal is inherently light.” I was especially drawn to the installation made up of florescent lights that spanned the space of an entire wall in his show. The unexpected use of traditional lighting was really striking.
I also liked Irwin’s definition of art. He said that art is to make you aware, to bring attention to what you’re around all of the time but not focused on. His large, colored, plasticy looking sheets are a good example of how he used surfaces to bring attention to the way the room was lit; it made apparent what is often overlooked because there are other things to focus on. Irwin also stated that art is in a constant state of moving and resolving because art is a conditional activity. It’s a curious thought; art is always changing and being compared and is conditional on what is going on around it. Especially with new media, the ‘conditional’ aspect is especially prevalent, since context is often a vital component in understanding the work.
Overall, I enjoyed this documentary, as well as Robert Irwin’s work and thoughts on art.