Wall Drawing 519, Sol LeWitt

Exhibition Label: “Sol LeWitt: Wall Drawing 519,” Dec-2014, Laura Minton The idea or the concept is the most important aspect of the work. -Sol LeWitt, Paragraphs on Conceptual Art, 1967 “A red square on a yellow wall; a blue circle on a red wall; a yellow triangle on a blue wall.” This statement, along with a simple diagram and brief instructions on color application form the basis of Sol LeWitt’s Wall Drawing 519, a vibrant new gift to the Museum. The installation is a lively example of LeWitt’s many large-scale wall drawings and features geometric shapes painted in vivid hues. Sol LeWitt was a leading figure in Minimalist and Conceptual art who emphasized the idea over the material presence in his artwork. This monumental work demonstrates a certain playfulness, as well as LeWitt’s lifetime commitment to articulating his ideas through both language and action. Wall Drawing 519 also offers visual and conceptual connections to Gard Blue, an installation by LeWitt’s contemporary James Turrell that is currently on view in the Central Court. LeWitt made more than 1,200 wall drawings, each beginning as a set of instructions or a schematic diagram that is then carried out by assistants directly on a wall. The drawing’s installation at the Spencer lasted two weeks and involved a team of draftsmen, exhibition design staff members, and a representative from the Sol LeWitt Estate. Wall drawings have an unlimited lifespan and can be removed and repainted in different locations; Wall Drawing 519 was first installed in Stamford, Connecticut in 1987.