art and architecture

While watching the documentary Concert of Wills: Making the Getty Center I had my first disillusionment of Robert Irwin. While he was designing the garden for the Getty Center there was no respect towards the architect Richard Meier.

Meier had spent 14 years designing the project, collaborating with the Getty Trust, the museum director, and the surrounding neighborhood. There was a lot of give and take.

Erwin on the other hand was brought into the project very much toward the end and when concerns about his design where brought up by Meier he would have nothing to do with it.

From the sky the Erwin design is okay.


When you hear Meier talk about his vision for that specific area of the project, and you have been there, you realize, it does not work well.


There is such a difference between creating ones art and designing buildings. The art process is often solitary, no interaction with others.

Architecture on the other hand must take into consideration people, function, and place. Therefore there has to be interaction between all parties. It is very much a collaborative process, with opportunities for solitary reflection.


The design process of architecture could be very valuable to many artists.