[Leica] New museums

[robertmeier at usjet.net (Robert Meier)]

So you're saying that none of the dozens of new museums around the  
world count as museums because they are also architectural show pieces?

On Mar 31, 2010, at 10:06 AM, Lawrence Zeitlin wrote:

> Robert Meier wrote that there have been a FLOOD of new museums  
> opened in the
> last decade.
>
> Come on now. You know what I mean. Give me a bit of rhetorical  
> license.
>
>
> While it is true that a number of art museums and display spaces  
> have been
> built recently, most have been exercises in architectural excess  
> intended to
> gratify the ambitions of designers, patrons, and civic authorities.  
> The
> primary function of an art museum is to house and display art  
> works. Only
> secondarily to be an art work in itself. It should follow great  
> architect
> Louis Sullivan's overriding precept of architectural design - Form  
> follows
> function.
>
>
>> From the artist or photographer's point of view the best museum is  
>> one which
> provides a great deal of well lit, unadorned wall space with viewing
> distances sufficient for visitors to see a painting or photograph  
> in its
> entirety. The museum itself should not detract nor compete with the  
> art
> therein. It is no accident that the museums that artists like best are
> generally converted factory buildings. The Tate Museum in Liverpool  
> or the
> Dia Museum in Beacon, New York are good examples. Apparently the  
> open space
> requirements of factory production share a lot in common with the  
> display
> requirements of graphic artists and photographers.
>
>
> Given the vastly increased volume of graphic works and the limited
> availability of opportunities to display them, I stand by the  
> premise that
> competition for display space will grow ever more intense.  
> Paintings and
> photos live far too long. They should be designed to self destruct  
> within
> the lifetime of the creator. In photography, hypo is the enemy.  
> Printing out
> paper faded naturally after a short period. Thank God digital media  
> is not
> forever.
>
>
> Larry Z
>
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