Yann Novak’s Stillness
Overview
As The Broad marks its 5th anniversary, we look back at a pivotal moment during the museum’s construction. Before the museum opened in 2015, Yann Novak created an expansive art piece, Stillness (2015), at The Broad. Stillness drew attention to how light—from the sun’s movement across the museum’s 280 skylights—transforms the museum’s 35,0000 square feet of column-free space.
In designing The Broad, the architecture firm Diller, Scofidio and Renfro (DS+R) created a glass skin to harness sunlight into the museum's galleries. The translucence of DS+R’s design brings the external environment's atmospheric conditions inside without exposing artwork to harmful UV rays.
The quality of light in the galleries is an important factor in how visitors experience the artworks on view. Stillness was an opportunity for the public to experience the unique design of the museum’s third floor before the walls of the museum's galleries were installed.
This video features documentation of Stillness at The Broad. Hear Ed Patuto, director of audience engagement, speak with Novak about the artwork, and see video and accompanying sound elements of Stillness.
