The Hirshhorn Artist Interview Program: Capturing the Contemporary

Posted on Thu, 12/19/2013 - 08:14

Capturing the Contemporary is a collaborative initiative among Hirshhorn conservators, curators, educators, and other staff to engage in a series of preservation-focused dialogues with artists about their works in the collection.

It has become globally recognized that artist interviews are an essential component in the conservation of modern and contemporary artworks. Artists continue to push boundaries by exploring unconventional materials and fabrication techniques. Further complications have arisen with the advent of installation and conceptual art. Communication with the artist is often necessary to elucidate not just how a work was made but also which components or qualities are central to its meaning, thus requiring preservation.

For access to interview videos and transcripts, send a request to hmsgcollections@si.edu.

Image removed.Janine Antoni, February 11, 2015
 

Image removed.Jae Ko, November 7, 2014
 

Image removed.Claes Oldenburg, November 6, 2014
 

Image removed.Jennie C. Jones, September 13, 2014
 

Image removed.Siebren Versteeg, September 12, 2014
 

Image removed.Robin Rose, March 6, 2014
 

Image removed.Jake Chapman, December 11, 2013
 

Image removed.Raphael Montañez Ortiz, October 25, 2013 
 

Image removed.Ann Hamilton, May 18, 2013
  

Image removed.Dan Steinhilber, May 9, 2013
  

Image removed.Kota Ezawa, May 2, 2013
  

Image removed.Maggie Michael, March 21, 2013
  

Image removed.Christo, March 28, 2013
  

Image removed.Andrea Way, February 18, 2013
  

Image removed.Vito Acconci, January 17, 2013
  

The Smithsonian Office of Fellowships and Internships’ Conservation of Museum Collections Program provided funding for conservation fellow Steven O’Banion to launch the Artist Interview Program. Nicholas Kaplan and Matthew Jex generously volunteered their time to film and edit the interviews. The Artist Interview Program is currently overseen by conservator Briana Feston-Brunet.