On display from 10 February 2017, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) will present pioneering American conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner’s latest installation OUT OF SIGHT – a participatory hopscotch-inspired artwork stretching 16m long.
Developed especially for teenagers, OUT OF SIGHT invites visitors of all ages to think creatively about the direction of their lives as they engage with the floor-based work in front of NGV International’s iconic Waterwall.
“We’re thrilled to be one of the first galleries in the world to stage Lawrence Weiner’s newest work OUT OF SIGHT, which will also be presented in cities including New York, Houston, Chicago and Shanghai,” said Tony Ellwood, Director NGV. “Using Weiner’s characteristic text-based approach, OUT OF SIGHT will explore the concept of uncertain futures with visitors encountering a number of different phrases and ideas as they move along the hopscotch.’
The installation will be accompanied by additional elements including a short film, featuring reflections on the artwork from a cast of Melbourne high school students. The opening weekend for OUT OF SIGHT will be marked by a series of dynamic performances showcasing the unique talents of local teenage creatives in fields such as music, dance, comedy and sport.
Through these performances the process of practicing, honing and then performing a skill will be on show, providing a window into teenage life and the act of becoming. NGV Teen Guides will also activate OUT OF SIGHT, offering their own diverse perspectives on the artwork to visitors and encouraging conversation and speculation about the work’s intention.
Following a successful pilot program, NGV Teen Guides will be launched as an ongoing initiative to coincide with the launch of OUT OF SIGHT, allowing teenagers to make their voices heard within the gallery.
Lawrence Weiner was born in 1942 in the South Bronx, New York City. He is considered a central figure in the development of conceptual art during the 1960s. Weiner is renowned for his predominantly text-based artworks that use language as a form of sculpture, replacing material with ideas. His artworks have been exhibited all over the world during a prolific career spanning more than fifty years.
Lawrence Weiner: OUT OF SIGHT
NGV International, 180 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne
Exhibition: 10 February – 17 April 2017
Free admission
For more information, visit: www.ngv.vic.gov.au for details.
Image: Lawrence Weiner, American born 1942, Out of sight 2016 – courtesy of the artist © Lawrence Weiner