Electric Dress 1956

Atsuko Tanaka made this 'Electric Dress' from lightbulbs, neon tubes, and electrical wire. The dress has a real sense of energy and play, a childlike wonder at the beauty of electric light. I love how the whole thing is literally illuminated from within, glowing in the dark. Look at the way the different colored bulbs are arranged - there’s a rhythm there, but it's not too orderly. I’m drawn to the way the wires are left exposed; it’s so matter-of-fact, like she's saying, "Here's the thing, it works like this." It reminds me of Lygia Clark’s interactive sculptures, which invite viewers to engage with the artwork and complete it. Both artists share a similar interest in the dematerialization of the art object. They remind us that art is not a static thing, but a process, an ongoing conversation between the artist, the viewer, and the world.