Renowned installation artist Janet Echelman has spent the past 25 years creating gathering spaces across five continents through her distinctive approach of suspending enormous nets from ceilings and outdoor structures. Her architectural installations, known for casting colorful shadows and glowing light onto their surroundings, sway gracefully with wind gusts and invite viewers to pause and contemplate themes of interconnectedness.
Echelman's groundbreaking work is now being celebrated in a comprehensive monograph titled "Radical Softness: The Responsive Art of Janet Echelman," published by Princeton Architectural Press and edited by Gloria Sutton. The extensive volume chronicles the artist's evolution over more than two decades while positioning her practice within broader contexts of art history, engineering, climate activism, and contemporary social issues.
The artist's philosophy centers on resilience and adaptability rather than rigid strength, as she explains in the book's introduction: "The way that my art finds power is through its resiliency and adaptability rather than brute strength, because it lets the wind move through it rather than fighting it. I think that's a metaphor for how to live in these times." This approach reflects her belief that each piece connects to larger systems that bind humanity together, whether political, ecological, or aesthetic.
"Radical Softness" offers readers a comprehensive look at Echelman's artistic practice through an extensive collection of sketches, diagrams, and photographs that document both her creative process and final installations. The monograph provides insight into the technical and conceptual development of her works, showcasing the intricate planning and execution required for each large-scale piece.
The book enriches its content by incorporating interviews and essays from a diverse group of contributors, including art historians, curators, engineers, and leading thinkers in various fields. This multidisciplinary approach helps situate Echelman's projects within what the publication describes as a "vast ecosystem" of contemporary art, science, and social consciousness.
Scheduled for release on September 16, "Radical Softness" is currently available for pre-order through the Colossal Shop. The publication represents a significant milestone in documenting Echelman's influential career and her unique contribution to contemporary installation art, offering both art enthusiasts and scholars a definitive resource on her transformative work.
