Don't miss the first Washington, D.C., edition of the Night of Ideas, a global marathon of ideas that will activate the Hirshhorn’s entire building with talks and performances by today’s leading thinkers and creators, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, 6:30 p.m.–12 midnight. For one night only, guests will have the unique opportunity to hear from over 50 philosophers, sociologists, economists, musicians, artists and authors from the Washington, D.C., area and around the world while exploring the museum during special extended hours.
For its Washington debut, the Night of Ideas will explore the theme “Facing Our Time” through a diverse range of topics, including civil rights, digital privacy, art and advocacy, economics, feminist philosophy, art history and more. A keynote address will be delivered by renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, whose internationally acclaimed books, including Purple Hibiscus (2003), Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), Americanah (2013), We Should All Be Feminists (2014) and most recently, Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions (2017), have been credited for starting a worldwide conversation about feminism.
Participants will enjoy thought-provoking insights from luminaries including art critic, curator and Marcel Duchamp expert Bernard Marcadé; French philosopher Judith Revel; artificial intelligence specialist Eric Gaussier; Senegalese economist and writer Felwine Sarr; author and national correspondent for The Atlantic Franklin Foer; privacy and public policy expert Dipayan Ghosh; the George Washington University Debate & Literary Society; and Smithsonian Year of Music co-curator Huib Schippers.
Dynamic performances from French visual artist Frédéric Nauczyciel and American voguing performer Marquis Revlon’s Marching Band Baltimore Project will punctuate the beginning and end of the event. The night will also include an interactive poetry performance by Les Souffleurs Commandos Poétiques, an instrumental interpretation of paintings into music by violinist David Schulman and a spoken word presentation by poet Charity Blackwell. Guests will also enjoy pop-up art activations and in-gallery DJ performances throughout the night.
This presentation of the Night of Ideas will also feature: Eva Illouz (sociologist), Raphaël Liogier (political scientist and sociologist), Manon Garcia (philosopher), Fabien Truong (sociologist), Anastasia Colosimo (political scientist), Jessica Mehta (poet), Ada Pinkston (artist) and Halcyon Arts Lab fellows Kristin Adair, Kelli Rae Adams, Jessica Mehta, Tariq O’Meally, Ada Pinkston, Althea Rao and Naoko Wowsugi.
A full list of activities can be found at https://www.nightofideasdc.net
The event is free and open to the public. Free tickets for the keynote speech by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are required and available starting January 10. Seating will be limited. Advance registration for the Night of Ideas is recommended but not required.
The Night of Ideas is produced in connection with A Night of Philosophy & Ideas, a project of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the U.S. Events will take place around the world, including five US cities, between January 26 and February 2, 2019.
In Washington, D.C., the Night of Ideas is co-organized by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Embassy of France in the United States, and is made possible by presenting sponsor the Judy and Peter Blum-Kovler Foundation and funding partner Institut Français. Additional support provided by Halcyon Foundation—Halcyon Arts Lab and the George Washington University Debate & Literary Society.
