-By Amy Milshtein, Photography by David Wakely Photography

project: Hiroshi Sugimoto Exhibition client: de Young Museum
location: San Francisco
designer: Mark Cavagnero Associates

A household name in his native Japan, Hiroshi Sugimoto is used to having his way. The photographer's enigmatic works recently were displayed on Washington, D.C.'s Hiroshi Museum's walls. Sugimoto was so pleased with the installation that he wanted a similar format for his San Francisco showing. That's when the curator at the de Young Museum called on Mark Cavagnero Associates to create a simple solution to an elaborate problem.

"We have a wonderful on-site exhibit designer, but he knew right away that with all of the physical restrictions of the de Young, this job would be too big for him," remembers Karen Breuer, curator in charge, Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts. Along with the usual demands of fire safety and crowd control, exhibits at the de Young have to meet strict seismic standards—without being bolted to the floor, wall, or ceiling. Add to the mix the fact that this is Sugimoto's first "all dark" show, and wayfinding became another issue.

Mark Cavagnero reached back to his architectural school days and pulled out an example from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. "There are constantly repeating curves there, and those curves have natural stability and strength," he says. "I tried to create a form strong enough to meet the standards but still gentle and light enough to complement the photography."

Sugimoto originally desired a thin wall that hung from the ceiling with his two series of works, "Seascapes" and"Sea of Buddha," in separate areas. In the end, the artist compromised with winning results. The 120-ft.-long, weighted, curved wall engages viewers, as the concave side draws visitors through with its line of Seascape photos. Appearing to float against the dark grey background, the photos are lit from above. Stark and dramatic, the installation works as a whole, while demanding viewers to stop and contemplate each piece.

The mood changes as viewers move to the convex side. Here, the "Sea of Buddha" is displayed in a niche cut into the wall. This piece is draped in a soft, intriguing glow and invites a more intimate experience. "Cutting into the wall helped minimize some of the display's boxiness," says Cavagnero. Lighting the 60-ft.-long span evenly took a bit of theatrical magic. "The fixtures are hidden in the curve above," Cavagnero reveals.

With only 10 days to set up before the show was to begin, the exhibit was constructed mostly off-site and designed for quick assembly. Efficient dismantling was also called for after the show concluded. Cavagnero is quick to point out that the project's success was a team effort, from the high-end residential contractor who built the wall to Cavagnero staff member Koji Tsutsui, a Japanese native who worked as translator. "Koji brought a level of finesse and experience that turned out to be indispensible," raves Cavagnero.


jury comment:

"Sugimoto once said, "However fake the subject, once photographed it's as good as real." This is a real project that captures the spirit of the photographer. The large sweep here seems to organize the content beautifully. These photos must be even more powerful in this beautifully sympathetic context."

who
Project: Hiroshi Sugimoto Exhibit Wall at the deYoung Museum. Client: Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco de Young Museum. Architect: Mark Cavagnero Associates. Structural engineer: Jon Brody Structural Engineers /www.jonbrody.com/. General contractor: Mayta & Jensen. Lighting designer: The Sugimoto artist team with assistance from de Young lighting department. Photographer: David Wakely Photography.

what
Paint: Benjamin Moore. Lighting: Glasslux, Altman.

where
Location: San Francisco, CA.