ROBERT IRWIN

Beacon Project DIA Beacon 1 January 1999–31 December 2003 New York

Press Release

Robert Irwin’s design for Dia Beacon, Beacon Project (1999–2003), is the artist’s second collaboration with Dia Art Foundation, following _Prologue: x183 _(1998) and_Excursus: Homage to the Square3 _(1998/2015). Conceiving of Dia Beacon as a work of art in and of itself, Irwin made subtle interventions into the building’s lighting and developed a symmetrical floorplan to ensure that the galleries are presented nonhierarchically and without a single overarching historical or chronological narrative. Specifically envisioned for the display of the works in Dia’s collection, Irwin’s design maintains the character of the original structure—with the sole addition of an entry vestibule—and ensures that Dia Beacon’s expansive galleries are entirely lit by natural light.

The artist envisioned the museum as a “sequence of experiences” including riding the linear corridor of the Metro North railway up the Hudson River from Grand Central Station in New York City and descending into Dia Beacon’s parking lot. Taking Beacon’s local horticulture and seasonal light conditions—as well as the former Nabisco factory’s architecture—into consideration, Irwin’s design for the landscape surrounding Dia Beacon incorporates indigenous plants that bloom throughout the year. Considering the possible ambulatory paths one could take through the grounds, Irwin designed a garden on the museum’s west side to serve as a bridge between otherwise unconnected parts of the building.

About the Artist

A leading figure of the Light and Space movement, Californian artist Robert Irwin incorporates such materials as fluorescent lights, scrims, and acrylic panels into his sculptures and installations that prompt questions about the experience of seeing.

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Also Exhibiting

All Exhibitions

ROBERT IRWIN Full Room Skylight – Scrim V – Dia Beacon DIA Beacon New York

About the Gallery

DIA Beacon is a renowned contemporary art museum situated in Beacon, New York, on the banks of the Hudson River. Housed in a repurposed 1929 Nabisco box printing factory, its expansive galleries and minimalist architecture make it a destination for lovers of postwar art and industrial design.

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Address

3 Beekman Street
Beacon
New York
United States

Opening Hours

January–March
Friday–Monday 11 am–4 pm

April–October
Thursday–Monday 11 am–6 pm

November–December
Thursday–Monday 11 am–4 pm

DIA Beacon

3 Beekman Street, Beacon, New York, United States

+1 845 440 0100
http://www.diaart.org

Opening hours

January–March
Friday–Monday 11 am–4 pm

April–October
Thursday–Monday 11 am–6 pm

November–December
Thursday–Monday 11 am–4 pm

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