[Music] I’ve never been too attached to things
I’ve never been too attached to things
I’ve never been too attached to things it might be because one Christmas
it might be because one Christmas
it might be because one Christmas morning when I was 2 years old
morning when I was 2 years old
morning when I was 2 years old cyclin Tracy devastated my hometown of
cyclin Tracy devastated my hometown of
cyclin Tracy devastated my hometown of Darwin it was the worst hurricane in
Darwin it was the worst hurricane in
Darwin it was the worst hurricane in Australia’s history destroying nearly
Australia’s history destroying nearly
Australia’s history destroying nearly 70% of homes including my own my three
70% of homes including my own my three
70% of homes including my own my three sisters my mother and I were evacuated
sisters my mother and I were evacuated
sisters my mother and I were evacuated to Sydney leaving behind our father with
to Sydney leaving behind our father with
to Sydney leaving behind our father with many of the men of the town my mother
many of the men of the town my mother
many of the men of the town my mother carried only a briefcase of important
carried only a briefcase of important
carried only a briefcase of important documents like birth certificates and
documents like birth certificates and
documents like birth certificates and some family photos how do you represent
some family photos how do you represent
some family photos how do you represent the past when all you have are fragments
the past when all you have are fragments
the past when all you have are fragments it’s particularly relevant standing here
it’s particularly relevant standing here
it’s particularly relevant standing here at the museum because it’s museums that
at the museum because it’s museums that
at the museum because it’s museums that do just that they retell the past
do just that they retell the past
do just that they retell the past through art and objects art is often the
through art and objects art is often the
through art and objects art is often the only thing left of great civilizations
only thing left of great civilizations
only thing left of great civilizations and Society’s art lasts and museums
and Society’s art lasts and museums
and Society’s art lasts and museums protect that past oddly enough my life
protect that past oddly enough my life
protect that past oddly enough my life is all about objects today I’m the
is all about objects today I’m the
is all about objects today I’m the director of the Hirshhorn Museum and
director of the Hirshhorn Museum and
director of the Hirshhorn Museum and sculpture garden a Smithsonian
sculpture garden a Smithsonian
sculpture garden a Smithsonian Institution museums began really in the
Institution museums began really in the
Institution museums began really in the 19th century transitioning from royal
19th century transitioning from royal
19th century transitioning from royal and court collections into much more
and court collections into much more
and court collections into much more publicly accessible institutions seen
publicly accessible institutions seen
publicly accessible institutions seen here is an image by Thomas strewth a
here is an image by Thomas strewth a
here is an image by Thomas strewth a contemporary artist who captured in
contemporary artist who captured in
contemporary artist who captured in photographic form visitors at the Louvre
photographic form visitors at the Louvre
photographic form visitors at the Louvre that first generation of museums in the
that first generation of museums in the
that first generation of museums in the 20th century we saw many more museums
20th century we saw many more museums
20th century we saw many more museums open many of them private institutions
open many of them private institutions
open many of them private institutions named after their founders such as the
named after their founders such as the
named after their founders such as the Whitney Museum or the Guggenheim Museum
Whitney Museum or the Guggenheim Museum
Whitney Museum or the Guggenheim Museum in New York but what does it mean to be
in New York but what does it mean to be
in New York but what does it mean to be a museum of the 21st century many
a museum of the 21st century many
a museum of the 21st century many museums are taking their cues from
museums are taking their cues from
museums are taking their cues from artists here you see an image of
artists here you see an image of
artists here you see an image of Theaster gates and his black monks of
Theaster gates and his black monks of
Theaster gates and his black monks of Mississippi they led a procession
Mississippi they led a procession
Mississippi they led a procession through the Hirshhorn galleries calling
through the Hirshhorn galleries calling
through the Hirshhorn galleries calling out artists names and calling attention
out artists names and calling attention
out artists names and calling attention to works it was this activation of the
to works it was this activation of the
to works it was this activation of the collection and artworks that really saw
collection and artworks that really saw
collection and artworks that really saw a new kind of engagement and that’s what
a new kind of engagement and that’s what
a new kind of engagement and that’s what we see today
we see today
we see today museums transforming themselves from
museums transforming themselves from
museums transforming themselves from institutions that were once just
institutions that were once just
institutions that were once just collections into engaged civic spaces
collections into engaged civic spaces
collections into engaged civic spaces and its artists who are helping us think
and its artists who are helping us think
and its artists who are helping us think about that artists are all about ideas
about that artists are all about ideas
about that artists are all about ideas that’s what they spend their time doing
that’s what they spend their time doing
that’s what they spend their time doing in fact when we think about where we are
in fact when we think about where we are
in fact when we think about where we are today it’s very much an ideas economy
today it’s very much an ideas economy
today it’s very much an ideas economy and when we think about this transition
and when we think about this transition
and when we think about this transition that we’re all feeling from analog to
that we’re all feeling from analog to
that we’re all feeling from analog to digital I often think of the cloud as an
digital I often think of the cloud as an
digital I often think of the cloud as an example an analogy where once we might
example an analogy where once we might
example an analogy where once we might have stored our photographs and files in
have stored our photographs and files in
have stored our photographs and files in a cabinet in our office or home today we
a cabinet in our office or home today we
a cabinet in our office or home today we store them in the cloud a thing we don’t
store them in the cloud a thing we don’t
store them in the cloud a thing we don’t know what it looks like we don’t know
know what it looks like we don’t know
know what it looks like we don’t know where it is and we certainly don’t know
where it is and we certainly don’t know
where it is and we certainly don’t know who owns it so this is the transition
who owns it so this is the transition
who owns it so this is the transition from the tangible to the intangible that
from the tangible to the intangible that
from the tangible to the intangible that I think artists can really help us
I think artists can really help us
I think artists can really help us grapple with one of the most radical
grapple with one of the most radical
grapple with one of the most radical examples of this is French artist Marcel
examples of this is French artist Marcel
examples of this is French artist Marcel Duchamp it’s hard to imagine but this
Duchamp it’s hard to imagine but this
Duchamp it’s hard to imagine but this work was created a hundred years ago
work was created a hundred years ago
work was created a hundred years ago it’s called fountain he placed a
it’s called fountain he placed a
it’s called fountain he placed a ready-made as he called them factory
ready-made as he called them factory
ready-made as he called them factory made urinal in a gallery and called it
made urinal in a gallery and called it
made urinal in a gallery and called it art in this way he transformed the very
art in this way he transformed the very
art in this way he transformed the very definition of what it meant to be art
definition of what it meant to be art
definition of what it meant to be art this object was not made by
this object was not made by
this object was not made by it wasn’t even touched by him other than
it wasn’t even touched by him other than
it wasn’t even touched by him other than the signature which was not his
the signature which was not his
the signature which was not his signature that he placed on the urinal
signature that he placed on the urinal
signature that he placed on the urinal so you can see that he opened the way
so you can see that he opened the way
so you can see that he opened the way for another kind of definition invert
for another kind of definition invert
for another kind of definition invert and by that another definition of
and by that another definition of
and by that another definition of creativity paving the way for an
creativity paving the way for an
creativity paving the way for an appreciation of photography as art and
appreciation of photography as art and
appreciation of photography as art and perhaps even beauty in the everyday one
perhaps even beauty in the everyday one
perhaps even beauty in the everyday one artist who always thought about the
artist who always thought about the
artist who always thought about the potential for technology in the future
potential for technology in the future
potential for technology in the future was nabbed in Peck he lived most of his
was nabbed in Peck he lived most of his
was nabbed in Peck he lived most of his life in New York in 1968 he talked of a
life in New York in 1968 he talked of a
life in New York in 1968 he talked of a paperless society and six years later he
paperless society and six years later he
paperless society and six years later he wrote all about the electronic
wrote all about the electronic
wrote all about the electronic superhighway then in the 1990s when
superhighway then in the 1990s when
superhighway then in the 1990s when President Clinton started to talk about
President Clinton started to talk about
President Clinton started to talk about the information superhighway namjoon
the information superhighway namjoon
the information superhighway namjoon said that he stole his idea and then
said that he stole his idea and then
said that he stole his idea and then namjoon went on to create robots to
namjoon went on to create robots to
namjoon went on to create robots to create a satellite connection between
create a satellite connection between
create a satellite connection between Paris and New York for an exhibition
Paris and New York for an exhibition
Paris and New York for an exhibition opening and many other things you see
opening and many other things you see
opening and many other things you see here his TV glasses that he invented in
here his TV glasses that he invented in
here his TV glasses that he invented in 1971 predating Google glass by many
1971 predating Google glass by many
1971 predating Google glass by many decades he was always thinking about the
decades he was always thinking about the
decades he was always thinking about the impact of technology on our daily lives
impact of technology on our daily lives
impact of technology on our daily lives a way way is another artist who uses
a way way is another artist who uses
a way way is another artist who uses technology but social media in 2008 when
technology but social media in 2008 when
technology but social media in 2008 when he learned of the sitch one earthquake
he learned of the sitch one earthquake
he learned of the sitch one earthquake and in particular the many children that
and in particular the many children that
and in particular the many children that were killed during this time he sent a
were killed during this time he sent a
were killed during this time he sent a team to do research to gather up more
team to do research to gather up more
team to do research to gather up more than the 5,000 names of all the children
than the 5,000 names of all the children
than the 5,000 names of all the children who died and then he put them on his
who died and then he put them on his
who died and then he put them on his blog using social media as a form of
blog using social media as a form of
blog using social media as a form of political dissent the blogs were then
political dissent the blogs were then
political dissent the blogs were then shut down by the Chinese government that
shut down by the Chinese government that
shut down by the Chinese government that perceived an implicit criticism of the
perceived an implicit criticism of the
perceived an implicit criticism of the government buildings and government
government buildings and government
government buildings and government contracts used to build those buildings
contracts used to build those buildings
contracts used to build those buildings here you see the names of all of those
here you see the names of all of those
here you see the names of all of those children that I Weiwei then transfer
children that I Weiwei then transfer
children that I Weiwei then transfer and into an artwork Yayoi Kusama she’s
and into an artwork Yayoi Kusama she’s
and into an artwork Yayoi Kusama she’s 88 years old this year but in 1965 she
88 years old this year but in 1965 she
88 years old this year but in 1965 she began to create infinity mirror rooms
began to create infinity mirror rooms
began to create infinity mirror rooms because she wanted you to experience the
because she wanted you to experience the
because she wanted you to experience the cosmos in a small room made from
cosmos in a small room made from
cosmos in a small room made from low-tech mirrors and lights
low-tech mirrors and lights
low-tech mirrors and lights she created a virtual reality of you
she created a virtual reality of you
she created a virtual reality of you amongst the cosmos and here ólafur
amongst the cosmos and here ólafur
amongst the cosmos and here ólafur Eliason in a project known as the
Eliason in a project known as the
Eliason in a project known as the weather project for the Tate Modern in
weather project for the Tate Modern in
weather project for the Tate Modern in London many of the projects in these
London many of the projects in these
London many of the projects in these large industrial spaces have offered
large industrial spaces have offered
large industrial spaces have offered artists another kind of public
artists another kind of public
artists another kind of public engagement much greater than they would
engagement much greater than they would
engagement much greater than they would have had before and here in the weather
have had before and here in the weather
have had before and here in the weather project Eliason creates the outside
project Eliason creates the outside
project Eliason creates the outside environment through light and mist
environment through light and mist
environment through light and mist inside the museum it created a sense of
inside the museum it created a sense of
inside the museum it created a sense of wonder for most people who visited but
wonder for most people who visited but
wonder for most people who visited but the important thing was that you had to
the important thing was that you had to
the important thing was that you had to be there
[Music]
[Music] Oh
Oh
Oh [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] [Music]
you are here so am i maybe millions of
you are here so am i maybe millions of people go back but they are did the P
from
from [Music]
so you just saw a project by Doug akin
so you just saw a project by Doug akin we commissioned him at the Hirsch on to
we commissioned him at the Hirsch on to
we commissioned him at the Hirsch on to think about a video projection and he
think about a video projection and he
think about a video projection and he did just that he treated the round
did just that he treated the round
did just that he treated the round architecture of the her Shan as a scream
architecture of the her Shan as a scream
architecture of the her Shan as a scream for projecting his video over the years
for projecting his video over the years
for projecting his video over the years others have always thought about the
others have always thought about the
others have always thought about the potential of new technology they either
potential of new technology they either
potential of new technology they either use Second Life to create real estate
use Second Life to create real estate
use Second Life to create real estate through which they saw to museums or
through which they saw to museums or
through which they saw to museums or collectors or even internet art that
collectors or even internet art that
collectors or even internet art that only existed in the Internet and here
only existed in the Internet and here
only existed in the Internet and here with Doug Aitken’s project like a
with Doug Aitken’s project like a
with Doug Aitken’s project like a liasons of the Tate it was very much an
liasons of the Tate it was very much an
liasons of the Tate it was very much an experience you had to be there and so
experience you had to be there and so
experience you had to be there and so what can we learn from artists about
what can we learn from artists about
what can we learn from artists about being in the 21st century it’s true that
being in the 21st century it’s true that
being in the 21st century it’s true that a lot of the images I’ve shown you here
a lot of the images I’ve shown you here
a lot of the images I’ve shown you here are about ideas and experience in many
are about ideas and experience in many
are about ideas and experience in many ways artists today are thinking about
ways artists today are thinking about
ways artists today are thinking about this very carefully
this very carefully
this very carefully in fact more so than about objects or
in fact more so than about objects or
in fact more so than about objects or hardware or anything like that so what
hardware or anything like that so what
hardware or anything like that so what of the long horizon the next generation
of the long horizon the next generation
of the long horizon the next generation I offer you an image here of art lab the
I offer you an image here of art lab the
I offer you an image here of art lab the her Sean’s education program especially
her Sean’s education program especially
her Sean’s education program especially for teens it’s a free program privately
for teens it’s a free program privately
for teens it’s a free program privately funded that allows teens to make with
funded that allows teens to make with
funded that allows teens to make with new forms of technology whether it’s 3d
new forms of technology whether it’s 3d
new forms of technology whether it’s 3d printing the sound booth that we have or
printing the sound booth that we have or
printing the sound booth that we have or imaging and using new programs this
imaging and using new programs this
imaging and using new programs this creates a safe space for them to be able
creates a safe space for them to be able
creates a safe space for them to be able to experiment with new forms of
to experiment with new forms of
to experiment with new forms of technology because it is through the
technology because it is through the
technology because it is through the marriage of creativity as well as math
marriage of creativity as well as math
marriage of creativity as well as math and science that will be the skill set
and science that will be the skill set
and science that will be the skill set needed for the 21st century using
needed for the 21st century using
needed for the 21st century using museums as a resource to connect to art
museums as a resource to connect to art
museums as a resource to connect to art ideas and creativity
ideas and creativity
ideas and creativity is the profound new impact that we can
is the profound new impact that we can
is the profound new impact that we can have in our society thank you
have in our society thank you
have in our society thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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