Summary

Liliane Lijn’s work covers a large spectrum of interests, from Light and its interaction with diverse new materials to the development of a fresh image for the feminine. Lijn has taken inspiration from incidental details both man-made and natural, mythology and poetry, science and technology. Lijn is interested in the development of language, collaborating across disciplines and making art that is interactive, in which the viewer can actively participate.

1939

Born in New York City

1958

Studied Archeology at the Sorbonne and Art History at the Ecole du Louvre in Paris

1961–63

Lived in New York; Artist in residence at a plastics factory, experimenting with fire and acids. Worked with light, poetry, movement and liquids; numerous international exhibitions established her as a leading kinetic artist

1963-64

Worked in Paris; exhibited first kinetic light works and Poem Machines.

1964-66

Lived in Athens, making use of natural forces in her sculpture.

1966

Moved to London

1974

Staged the performance The Power Game, a text-based gambling game and socio-political farce for the Festival for Chilean Liberation at the RCA

1983-90

Member of the Council of Management of the Byam Shaw

1997

Production Award from LFVPA to make a video based on Her Mother’s Voice (1996) artist’s book

1999

Opera Lab Fellowship, Performing Arts Labs. Lijn wrote a brief libretto The Descent of Inanna, with score by Morgan Hayes.

2005

Honorary Degree, Doctor of Letters from University of Warwick

ACE International Artist Fellowship, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, in partnership with NASA and the Leonardo Network.

2005-09

Developed Solar Hills, in collaboration with astronomer John Vallerga, a large scale solar installation in the landscape.

Worked with NASA chemist to develop installations using aerogel.

2009

NaREC Artist in Residence, in partnership with NaREC, AV Festival and Inspire Northumberland.

2010

Artist in Residence, Culture Lab, University of Newcastle.

2011

Digital Futures: Keynote speech for Net-audio Festival, the Roundhouse, London.

2012

Solar Beacon, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco.

2013

The Dance, shortlisted for the Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, London

2015

Glittering in the Sun / Crossing Map. A bilingual extended radio drama produced from Crossing Map (1983), performed on Deutschlandradio Kultur, and in conversation with Gaby Hartel, 8th November 2015.

2016

Spinning Dolls, permanent installation, Il Museo della Canapa, Sant’Anatolia di Narco, Italy

2018

Spotlight, Tate Britain, London

A-i-R at at Universe 02, APC Laboratory, Paris

2019

Converse Column, Public Art Commission, University of Leeds

SHE, Rodeo, London

2020

Stillness & Motion, Episode 5, in conversation with Jennifer Higgie, Echolot podcast, Muzeum Susch

2021

Minds Rising, Spirits Turning, 13th Gwangju Biennale, Gwangju