Style Spotlight: Transforming the Hirshhorn

From March 22-May 13, “360-Degree Projection,” an installation by Doug Aitken, will illuminate the facade of the Hirshhorn Museum with film. Conceptual sketch image courtesy of the Doug Aitken Workshop.

Since opening in 1974, the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum has been one of the most visually striking buildings in Washington, D.C., as much a work of art as the collections within. But beginning in March, the colossal cylinder, designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft, will become even more of an attraction as it plays host—and canvas—to Doug Aitken’s “360-Degree Projection.”

From sunset to midnight every night from March 22-May 13, approximately 11 high-definition projectors will cast a film of imagery varying from landscapes to cubist visions onto the building’s concrete façade. According to the artist’s statement, “The visual and conceptual language of the work will be scripted and filmed to seamlessly turn the form of the museum into a single transformative experience.”