07 June - 24 October, 2015
James Turrell
'LIGHTSCAPE'
The Exhibition
In 2015, Houghton Hall, Norfolk, hosted an ambitious and significant exhibition of James Turrell’s light pieces, many of which were collected by the Marquess of Cholmondeley, who had long been an admirer of his work. An exhibition dedicated to James Turrell’s work had been a long-held ambition of Lord Cholmondeley’s. He had first discovered Turrell’s work twenty years prior and, in 2000, had invited him to Houghton to install a ‘Skyspace’ amongst the trees on the west side of the house. Soon afterwards, a rusty water tank was removed from an 18th-century folly in the park to make way for his atmospheric interior space, ‘St Elmo’s Breath’.
The exhibition offered a unique alternative to typical exhibitions, with its silent, eerie ambiance and vibrant colors set amidst the tranquil landscapes of Houghton’s grounds. Visitors were immersed in Turrell’s world of color and contemplation, experiencing the transformative power of light in the historic setting. As darkness fell, the illuminated artworks created a surreal atmosphere, casting a mesmerizing glow over the hall and its surroundings.
About the Artist
Turrell is widely acknowledged as one of the most important artists working today. From the mid 1960’s onwards his principal concern has been the way we apprehend light and space. His study of mathematics and perceptual psychology, as well as his Quaker upbringing and background as a pilot, inform his practice. His first exhibition in 1967 of ‘projection pieces,’ used high intensity light projectors to give the illusion of a solid geometrical object, often seemingly floating in space. From these investigations of light, Turrell went on to begin his series of ‘Skyspaces’. These are enclosed viewing chambers that affect our perception of the sky.
Since then he has continued to create works using light as his medium. Perhaps his most celebrated works are his ‘Ganzfeld’ chambers, whole spaces immersed in light; as well as his more recent ‘Tall Glass’ series, which resemble windows of slowly changing colour. Meanwhile, Turrell continues work on a monumental project at Roden Crater, an extinct volcano in Arizona. Here he has created a series of viewing chambers, tunnels and apertures to heighten our sense of the heavens and earth in one of the most ambitious artistic endeavours of modern times.
Acknowledgements
Lord Cholmondeley extends his gratitude to Christie's and Pace Gallery for their sponsorship of the James Turrell Skyspace exhibition.
‘Light is a powerful substance. We have a primal connection to it.’
James Turrell
