Shelter (please close your eyes), 1996
Alfredo Jaar
(Chilean, born 1956)
Location: University of Washington, Seattle
ABOUT THE ARTWORK
Shelter (please close your eyes) by artist Alfredo Jaar is a series of text-based images that refer to photo images while pointing to their absence. Jaar notes, "This project tries a reverse strategy of presenting an absence in order to trigger a presence. By only describing the image that we failed to see, by going back to basics, words, meaning, I hope to establish contact with the intellect of the audience and point to certain issues." Jaar's images were temporarily installed in six lightboxes at the bus stop outside of the UW School of Art.
This artwork was part of a group of rotating installations on the University of Washington campus. The artists were selected in a competitive process to create images for existing lightboxes at bus stops outside of the UW's School of Art and Meany Hall. The images were reproduced as large-scale transparencies to fit the lightboxes. The bus stops featured the artworks for several months.
This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with University of Washington.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Alfredo Jaar is a New York City-based conceptual artist, architect, and filmmaker. His installation and performance-based interventions focus on social and political issues. He was born in Chile, South America. His artworks are collected by international museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City and the Tate Modern museum in London, England.
ARTWORK DETAILS
Medium | Cibatrans and mixed media lightbox installation |
Dimensions | Six panels, 50 in x 30 in each |
ID Number | WSAC1995.469.00A-F |
Acquisition Method | Curated Selection |
Artist Location | New York, United States |
Location Information
Agency | University of Washington |
Artwork Location | University of Washington Temporarily not on display. |
WA County | King |
Placement | Exterior |
Site Type | University |
Address | 15th Ave. NE, between NE Pacific St. and NE 45th St. Seattle, WA 98195 |
Geo. Coordinates | 47.660942, -122.315127 |
Before Visiting | Some artworks may be located in areas not accessible to the general public (especially in K-12 public schools). Consider contacting the site prior to a visit to ensure access. |
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