The Dallas Museum of Art is taking a unique look at the places we live through contemporary art. “For a Dreamer of Houses” features 54 works inspired by Gaston Bachelard’s 1958 book “The Poetics of Space.” Many of the pieces come from the museum’s permanent collection. Among the highlights are major recent acquisitions of works by Alex Da Corte, Olivia Erlanger, EJ Hill, Francisco Moreno, Pipilotti Rist, and Do Ho Suh.
Dr. Agustín Arteaga, the Eugene McDermott Director of the DMA, says that the recent additions to the DMA’s contemporary collection provided the opportunity to organize the exhibition, which he says related compelling artworks to an enduringly fascinating text.
“With these large-scale and highly immersive new works, along with treasures from the collection that go as far back as 1950, we hope visitors will be introduced to new ways of looking at everyday items to discover much deeper meanings,” he says.
The exhibition is organized to align with five of the book’s chapters that focus on the psychological importance of homes. It was designed to be an imaginative and immersive exhibition that considers how our homes reflect ourselves as well as our values and desires. Forms derived from houses and furniture are used to explore ideas like belonging, alienation, fantasy, gender, and the human body.
It’s hard to miss “Rubber Pencil Devil,” a neon frame house created by Da Carte. Visitors can stand inside the flashy abode and watch absurdist videos starring him. The colorful “Massachusetts Chandelier” by Rist is made completely of worn women’s undergarments, while Janine Antoni’s Grape is made entirely with men’s pants pockets.
EJ Hill’s work “Desk” was created to highlight racist violence and educational inequality. Visitors can stand behind it and read dedication written by Samaria Rice. Her 12-year-old son Tamir Rice was killed by police.
“Artists have long depicted the home as site for self-discovery, encounter, and community,” exhibition organizer Dr. Anna Katherine Brodbeck said. “This exhibition allows us to explore how artists today are engaging with that theme in exciting and ambitious ways, challenging our preconceptions of identity formation and cultural exchange.”
“For a Dreamer of Houses” runs through July 4 at the Dallas Museum of Art. Adult tickets are $9, with discounts for seniors, students, and military personnel. Children 11 and under are free.
