One of the simply hypnotizing works we viewed at the Hirshhorn last week was Olafur Eliasson’s Round Rainbow.
This reflective sculpture is made from a roughly 2 foot diameter Lucite ring with a high-intensity light shown on it. The dancing reflections were just breathtaking. This piece was created by Eliasson in 2005 and is currently showing as part of the Hirshhorn’s Refract, Reflect, Project: Light Works from the Collection.
As always, when I visit the Hirshhorn I am intrigued by the constant redefining of art. Their collection holds many works, like this one by Eliasson, which are very powerful and moving but are not what would have been described as “art” at one time. The use of refracted light in Round Rainbow recreates the environment as you stand before it and has a dreamlike quality that I simply got lost in.
I will be spattering the blog with more highlights of our visit to Washington in the coming weeks. In reviewing the photos and notes I took there is much more I want to share.
