More
- Classifieds
- Cars
- Deals
- Real Estate
- Rentals
- Photos
- Find&Save
- Obituaries
- Archives
- Topics
- Blogs
- WP Wine Club

In the News

Artist turns Hirshhorn’s exterior into ‘world’s greatest screen’

After two years of discussion and planning, Doug Aitken’s “SONG 1” multimedia spectacle is being projected onto all sides of Washington’s modernist museum.

5 Seconds

00:00

00:00

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Justin Nabors sits on the hood of a car to view Doug Aitken's "SONG 1", a 360-degree projection as it is seen at the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The display can be seen from sunset to midnight March 22 to May 13.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Doug Aitken's “SONG 1,” a 360-degree projection, is seen at the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Doug Aitken's “SONG 1,” a 360-degree projection, is seen at the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Doug Aitken's 'SONG 1' is seen at the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Doug Aitken's "SONG 1" is seen at the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Doug Aitken's 'SONG 1', a 360-degree projection is seen at the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Doug Aitken's "SONG 1", a 360-degree projection is seen at the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Doug Aitken's 'SONG 1' is seen at the Hirshhorn.

Doug Aitken's "SONG 1" is seen at the Hirshhorn.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

California artist Doug Aitken's 'SONG 1' will be projected onto all sides of Washington's Hirshhorn Museum from dusk to midnight through May 13. Beck is one of the artists whose cover of 'I Only Have Eyes For You' will play during the project.

California artist Doug Aitken's "SONG 1" will be projected onto all sides of Washington's Hirshhorn Museum from dusk to midnight through May 13. Beck is one of the artists whose cover of "I Only Have Eyes For You" will play during the project.

Hirshhorn Museum

$The continuous visual loop will fracture images, swirl, swoop and transform the modernist cylinder into a 360-degree panorama.$

The continuous visual loop will fracture images, swirl, swoop and transform the modernist cylinder into a 360-degree panorama.

Hirshhorn Museum

Viewers can experience the multimedia spectacle in a number of ways: at a fixed point watching it all unfold, walking around the building or driving by what may seem like a moving two-story billboard on the Mall.

Viewers can experience the multimedia spectacle in a number of ways: at a fixed point watching it all unfold, walking around the building or driving by what may seem like a moving two-story billboard on the Mall.

/ Hirshhorn Museum

The work, as the title indicates, will be accompanied by musicians performing the pop standard “I Only Have Eyes for You,” written by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin in 1934.

The work, as the title indicates, will be accompanied by musicians performing the pop standard “I Only Have Eyes for You,” written by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin in 1934.

Hirshhorn Museum

Kerry Brougher, the Hirshhorn’s deputy director, says that with no fixed central vantage point to the piece, it is the song that anchors it. “The tempo for it is set at 60 beats per minute, and it’s continued all the way through the film at 60 beats for minute,” he says.

Kerry Brougher, the Hirshhorn’s deputy director, says that with no fixed central vantage point to the piece, it is the song that anchors it. “The tempo for it is set at 60 beats per minute, and it’s continued all the way through the film at 60 beats for minute,” he says.

Hirshhorn Museum

For Doug Aitken, whose outdoor video projections, installations and musical happenings have earned him awards for more than a decade, the building’s stout cylinder was a particular challenge. Usually such ambitious 360-degree presentations have been indoors and on concave screens.

For Doug Aitken, whose outdoor video projections, installations and musical happenings have earned him awards for more than a decade, the building’s stout cylinder was a particular challenge. Usually such ambitious 360-degree presentations have been indoors and on concave screens.

Hirshhorn Museum

The aim of 'Song 1' is to upend the very concept of a museum, demonstrating “how a museum can be pulled inside out,” Brougher said.

The aim of "Song 1" is to upend the very concept of a museum, demonstrating “how a museum can be pulled inside out,” Brougher said.

Hirshhorn Museum

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

BALTIMORE, MD May 18: Mike Califano (L) and Anthony Forgione horse around in the infield during the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes on May 18, 2013 in Baltimore, MD (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post)

Photos of the day

Preakness Stakes, deadly tornadoes, Whit Monday, Gothic festival, World Dog Show and more.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 20: Joanna Lumley poses during a photocall at the Chelsea Flower Show on May 20, 2013 in London, England. The Chelsea Flower Show run by the RHS celebrates its 100th birthday this year. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Joanna Lumley, Madonna, Prince, Tracy Morgan, Nicole Kidman, Justin Timberlake, Gene Simmons and more.

Graduating students' with rain soaked mortar boards from a driving rain, listen as US President Barack Obama delivers the commencement address during a ceremony at Morehouse College on May 19, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Obama addresses Morehouse College graduates

President Obama gets personal about race and manhood in a speech to graduates of historically black Morehouse College.

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 19: Singer Taylor Swift accepts the award for 'Top Billboard 200 Album' onstage during the 2013 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The 2013 Billboard Music Awards red carpet and ceremony

Stars float down the red carpet in Las Vegas to make their way into a performance-filled awards ceremony featuring artists such as Prince, Justin...

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 18: Jockey Gary Stevens rides Oxbow out to the front of the pack on the first straight away during the 138th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., on Saturday, May 18, 2013. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)

Oxbow wins and infield fun at Preakness Stakes in Baltimore

Oxbow put D. Wayne Lukas in the record books again with an upset of Orb in the Preakness, giving the Hall of Fame trainer his 14th win in a Triple...

Lightning from a tornadic thunderstorm passing over Clearwater, Kansas strikes at an open field May 19, 2013. A massive storm front swept north through the central United States on Sunday, hammering the region with fist-sized hail, blinding rain and tornadoes, including a half-mile wide twister that struck near Oklahoma City. News reports said at least one person had died. REUTERS/Gene Blevins (UNITED STATES - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

Tornadoes slam Midwest, Plains

Several tornadoes struck parts of the nation’s midsection Sunday, concentrating damage in central Oklahoma and Wichita, Kan. One person was killed near Shawnee, Okla., and 21...

MANASSAS, VA - MAY 07: Daniel Tabarez, 1, top, helps his daughter, Maxx Tabarez, 1, walks as Milenka St. Clair, top right, a family support worker with Northern Virginia Family Service visits the family's home on Tuesday May 07, 2013 in Manassas, VA. Daniel and his family are part of the Healthy Families program. (Photo by Matt McClain/ The Washington Post)

At-home visits may be the new pre-preschool

In an effort to close the achievement gap, new programs get to kids early. Here are some of the people Milenka St. Clair, a family support worker...

New York Yankees' Travis Hafner bats during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, May 12, 2013, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

MLB power rankings

Barry Svrluga assesses the best teams in Major League Baseball through Thursday.

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Loading...

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.