Ana Prvački: Detour | Press Release
When we enter a museum, we expect to look closely at paintings or objects, although we aren’t usually given instructions on how to do so. In a special collaboration with Google Arts & Culture, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco have invited artist Ana Prvački (artist in residence, 2017) to create an experiential tour—designed just for the de Young—that breaks apart how we traditionally behave within the walls of a museum.
Ana Prvački: Detour
June 11 – September 29, 2019
When we enter a museum, we expect to look closely at paintings or objects, although we aren’t usually given instructions on how to do so. In a special collaboration with Google Arts & Culture, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco have invited artist Ana Prvački (artist in residence, 2017) to create an experiential tour—designed just for the de Young—that breaks apart how we traditionally behave within the walls of a museum.
Known for her participatory projects that use humor as a means to disarm traditional museum activities and behaviors, Prvački visited the de Young many times over the course of the past year, exploring the grounds and galleries, talking to staff, and observing visitors in order to learn the museum’s secrets and quirks. In the resulting project, Detour, Prvački uses a series of filmed vignettes to lead visitors on an alternative tour, accessible through the Google Lens app* on mobile devices. Google Lens is a visual search tool that lets you search what you see and interact with the world around you in an entirely new way.
The tour takes visitors through many of the de Young’s free public spaces, bringing them to the copper facade, the Osher Sculpture Garden, and the iconic Hamon Tower. Triggered at various stops throughout the museum, Detour’s nine videos will each address a different idea, illustrating the de Young’s relationship to topics ranging from ancient myths to environmental matters. Each stop will inspire visitors to imagine new ways of viewing, connecting, and behaving with art and the de Young. In addition to the virtual components, two sculptures will be installed in connection with the project: a music stand in the Piazzoni Murals Room and a bee memorial in the Osher Sculpture Garden.
Please see here for more details on how to download Google Lens on Android or iOS and here to learn more about the exhibition.
* Download the Google Lens app in Google Play (Android) or the Google Search app in the App Store (iOS). Visit g.co/lens for more information.
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About Ana Prvački
Ana Prvački (b. 1976, Serbia) is a performance and installation artist trained in theater and music. Prvački’s interdisciplinary work deals with sound and sensuality. She uses a gently pedagogical and comedic approach and aims for a conceptual practice with a low carbon footprint. Her work has been featured in international exhibitions, including the 14th Istanbul Biennial (2015), Contour Biennial (2015), dOCUMENTA 13 (2012), Sydney Biennial (2007), Singapore Biennial (2006), and Turin Triennale (2005). Her solo exhibitions and projects have appeared at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston; Castello di Rivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Turin; Institute of Contemporary Arts, Singapore; and 1301PE Gallery, Los Angeles. In addition, Prvački was the artist in residence at the de Young museum in 2017.
Ticketing
Ana Prvački: Detour will be installed in the de Young's public spaces; no admission required.
Visiting \ de Young
Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco. Open Tuesdays–Sundays, 9:30 am–5:15 pm. Open select holidays; closed most Mondays.
About the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco oversee the de Young, located in Golden Gate Park, and the Legion of Honor, in Lincoln Park. It is the largest public arts institution in San Francisco, and one of the most visited arts institutions in the United States.
The de Young originated from the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition in Golden Gate Park and was established as the Memorial Museum in 1895. It was later renamed in honor of Michael H. de Young, who spearheaded its creation. The present copper-clad landmark building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, opened in October 2005. Reflecting an active conversation among cultures, perspectives, and time periods, the collections on view include American painting, sculpture, and decorative arts from the 17th to the 21st centuries; arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas; costume and textile arts; and international modern and contemporary art.
About Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture is a new, immersive way to experience art, history, culture, and world wonders from a thousand organizations worldwide. Google Arts & Culture has been created by the Google Cultural Institute and it is available for free for everyone on the web, on iOS and Android. Read more here.