James Turrell
Los Angeles , California. “My works are not a looking at, but a looking into; not the displacement of space with mass, but the working; not objects in a room, but the room. The format is not things within space, but space itself.” – James Turrell
James Turrell has been a revolutionary artist in the use of light. He does not produce light for the purpose of illumination, but creates conditions in which light can behave free of that role. He gives form to light. Turrell was raised as a Quaker where he was taught not to create graven images. Quakerism provided Turrell with a background that shapes his art in the virtues of simplicity and directness of expression. When he was in school, Turrell studied perceptual psychology. He learned about the connections, and the differences, between what your eyes really see and what your mind thinks you should see. Turrell is also an experienced pilot. In many cases his art plumbs space just as he plumbs it in his plane. He sees the sky as his studio. In 1967, as Turrell was developing his first works, Minimalism and the Earthwork movement were in full swing. His works contain characteristics of these movements, but it is Turrell’s unique elements that mark his position in art history. Turrell’s highly original artistic activities are held in high esteem in the US and Europe, resulting in approximately 200 solo and joint exhibitions to this date. He has been working since the mid-70’s on a great life work, the Roden Crater in Flagstaff, Arizona. This extinct volcano is being transformed into a celestial observatory with underground chambers from which visitors will be able to gaze at daylight, moonlight, and starlight.
James Turrell has been a revolutionary artist in the use of light. He does not produce light for the purpose of illumination, but creates conditions in which light can behave free of that role. He gives form to light. Turrell was raised as a Quaker where he was taught not to create graven images. Quakerism provided Turrell with a background that shapes his art in the virtues of simplicity and directness of expression. When he was in school, Turrell studied perceptual psychology. He learned about the connections, and the differences, between what your eyes really see and what your mind thinks you should see. Turrell is also an experienced pilot. In many cases his art plumbs space just as he plumbs it in his plane. He sees the sky as his studio. In 1967, as Turrell was developing his first works, Minimalism and the Earthwork movement were in full swing. His works contain characteristics of these movements, but it is Turrell’s unique elements that mark his position in art history. Turrell’s highly original artistic activities are held in high esteem in the US and Europe, resulting in approximately 200 solo and joint exhibitions to this date. He has been working since the mid-70’s on a great life work, the Roden Crater in Flagstaff, Arizona. This extinct volcano is being transformed into a celestial observatory with underground chambers from which visitors will be able to gaze at daylight, moonlight, and starlight.
(American, 1943 – )
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