American artist James Turrell is known for immersive light installations designed to alter the way we perceive the world, if only for moment. His latest exhibition at Pace Gallery in London promises just this, offering a truly original experience.
Turrell is an artist who looks to the heavens for inspiration. His work has been concerned with light and space since the1960s, and is designed to quite literally change our perceptions. In the past, he has experimented with the Ganzfeld effect, which can produce altered states of consciousness through sensory deprivation achieved with coloured light.
In 1977 Turrell purchased an extinct volcano in Arizona, which he transformed into a site that offers visitors a celestial experience in the desert. This project taps into the spirit of ancient structures built for observing the heavens, such as prehistoric sites in the UK and those designed to map the stars in ancient Egypt.
James Turrell in front of Roden Crater, Arizona. Copyright Florian Holzherr, 2005
There will be nothing of this scale in London, but visitors to this exhibition at Pace Gallery will have the opportunity to explore new works by Turrell, including specifically designed chambers, featuring elliptical shapes that glow through a frosted glass surface. The light in these chambers with change hypnotically from one colour to the next on a loop that is imperceptible to the viewer. The gallery describes this as a 'transcendental experience.' If you can't make it to Arizona just now, this transportive exhibition is the next best thing.
Tickets to the private view (10 February, 6–9pm) are available to Gold Whisper members.
| What | James Turrell, Pace Gallery |
| Where | Pace Gallery, 6 Burlington Gardens , London, W1S 3ET | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Green Park (underground) |
| When |
11 Feb 20 – 27 Mar 20, Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 6pm |
| Price | £free |
| Website | Click here for more information |
