The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) director, Michael Govan, has publicly discussed the highly anticipated David Geffen Galleries for the first time. This conversation is part of the relaunch of True Colors, the art-focused newsletter by Nate Freeman, now featured in Vanity Fair. The newsletter will be delivered weekly on Fridays, offering insights into interviews, art market trends, and updates from the art world.
The inaugural edition of the newsletter showcases Govan's thoughts on the museum's new building, designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. This ambitious $720 million project is set to open to the public next month after years of construction, debates, and escalating costs.
In the interview, Govan positions the new structure as a transformative step for museums in the 21st century. He highlights the project as an opportunity to redefine how encyclopedic museums narrate the art story, moving away from traditional categorizations based solely on geography or chronology. Instead, the design encourages a more integrated experience, allowing visitors to engage with diverse artworks side by side.
Notably, the building's design spans Wilshire Boulevard, featuring a unique single-floor layout that encompasses 347,500 square feet of gallery space. This innovative approach aims to foster closer connections among various cultures and epochs within the museum's collection.
Addressing the engineering challenges posed by Los Angeles's seismic activity, the structure is built on base isolators that enable it to move during earthquakes, ensuring the safety of both the architecture and the artworks housed within.
While Govan has faced criticism regarding the demolition of previous LACMA buildings and the rising construction costs, he acknowledges that strong reactions are part of the process when cultural institutions embark on significant projects. He suggests that fostering public investment in the conversation is vital, stating, "No, no, let people get invested."
Govan emphasizes that the museum's design is specifically tailored for Los Angeles and its unique cultural landscape, remarking that such an experimental approach would not be feasible in other cities. As the David Geffen Galleries prepare to open, LACMA plans to host various events, including galas, concerts, and large installations featuring previously unseen works from its collection.
The Spring issue of Vanity Fair, available on newsstands March 31, will include exclusive photographs of the new museum.
