Perceptual artist
James Turrell’s works can be seen as a continuation of the work that Dan Flavin first revolutionized. However, unlike Flavin’s sculptural light forms, Turrell’s light works embody a physical presence. They are immersive, inviting one to sit and contemplate space and light. For
Aten Reign (2013), commissioned and staged within the iconic rotunda at the
Guggenheim Museum in New York, Turrell created a site-specific installation that transported visitors to another world, creating the sensation of having just jumped into a pool of softly pulsating purple. By doing so, he demonstrated that a work of art was no longer just a painting on a wall, but also a unique experience derived from a certain environment.
The use of light in art spans movements and manifests itself in varied forms. From Caravaggio to Turrell, each artist used light in a way that shifted the paradigm of experiencing an artwork. Light’s universality is what makes it compelling, and it will undoubtedly continue to serve artists for centuries to come.
—Nicole Shaub, Institutional Partnerships Liaison