Developed originally as part of the Bloomberg Summer at the Roundhouse Series
"So this is it. It is over. 5,600 silicon rods have been divided up into small clusters. The 720 degrees have been slowly reduced . There is nothing left other than a whole string of wonderful memories, special moments and an infinite number of frames that have buried themselves deep in our hearts. Thank you Ron for this amazing artwork and your unending creativity and warmth. Go in peace and thanks for every one of the degrees," Itay Mautner, Artistic Director, the Jerusalem Season of Culture
“720°,” the stunning and much-talked about installation by designer, artist, and architect Ron Arad, was installed for three weeks in the Israel Museum‘s Art Garden, side-by-side with works by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, and Micha Ullman.
An installation of monumental proportions, “720 Degrees” is composed of 5,600 silicon rods suspended from a height of 8 meters to form a perfect circle.
The cords serve as an empty digital canvas on which works by renowned video artists from Israel and abroad, including Christian Marclay (The Clock), David Shrigley, Ori Gersht, Mat Collishaw and more, will be projected for outdoor viewing each evening.
Visitors were able to see “720 Degrees” from points throughout the Museum’s 20-acre campus and experience up-close 360-degree screenings of films and video art projected onto the structure. They were also be able to approach and enter inside the installation to experience the work from its interior.
720°, The Israel Museum. Photo by Chaim Yafim Barbalat
“720°” marks a new peak in Arad's varied and prolific career of cultural creativity. As an artist who explores materials and textures, Arad aims to provide an alternative experience of images in motion with this new work. The installation, which was constructed for the first time at the Roundhouse in London in summer 2011, was described by the BBC as a "new way of seeing art," and by the Observer as "playful, original and brilliant."
“720°” will be on view Saturday – Thursday evenings, 20:00 – 23:00, from mid-August until early September. Video art will be screened in a loop which repeats itself every hour. A bar and light refreshments will be available.
This event was made possible thanks to the help and support of: The London Roundhouse who have provided invaluable support, The Bloomberg Foundation, The British Council, and the Jerusalem Development Authority.
Curator, concept, and construction: Ron Arad
Artistic Director and Performance Curator: Itay Mautner
Production: Faza Productions for the Jerusalem Season of Culture in cooperation with the Events Department of The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
The Jerusalem Development Authority is participating in advancing the initiative of positioning Jerusalem as an international cultural tourism destination
Developed originally as part of the Bloomberg Summer at the Roundhouse Series
