From the Archive: Robert Wilson Artist Talk

In 1991 SFMOMA presented Robert Wilson’s Vision, an exhibition of drawings, set pieces, and sculptures created by Wilson for his celebrated avant-garde theater productions. The visionary director, playwright, and visual artist first earned wide renown with the 1976 premiere of Einstein on the Beach, the groundbreaking opera he created in collaboration with composer Philip Glass. Drawing from influences that range from the established artistry of choreographer George Balanchine and writer Gertrude Stein to the surreal perceptions of his deaf-mute son and the precise yet abstract communiqués of his autistic protégé and later collaborator Christopher Knowles, Wilson pioneered a form of performance that transcends language. In this artist talk, presented in conjunction with the exhibition, he describes his theatrical work in detail and speaks about the people and experiences that shaped his innovative approach.