'Light is a powerful substance. We have a primal connection to it.'
Internationally acclaimed Californian artist
James Turrell uses light and space as a medium to challenge perception and explore "'mankind's place in the universe". Inspired by astronomy, physics, architecture and theology, the 72 year old artist has had over 160 solo exhibitions worldwide and is said to be one of the most influential artists of the past fifty years.
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James Turrell, First Light, 1989 – 90, 20 etchings in aquatint, Installation view, © James Turrell, Photo: Peter Huggins[/caption]
From 7th June - 24th October Turrell will be showcasing his work in a major exhibition,
Lightscape at the 18th century
Houghton Hall in Norfolk. Commissioned by the Hall's owner, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, a longstanding admirer and collector of Turrell's work, the exhibition spans over five decades of work and includes a site-specific light show,
The Illumination which will use 10,000 LEDs to light up the entire west façade of the Hall from dusk.
James Turrell, Raethro Red, 1968, Projection Piece, © James Turrell, Photo: Peter Huggins
Inside the Hall you can see Turrell's early experiments with light from the 1960's, holograms, prints and drawings and models for his ongoing project at Roden Crater - a 400,000 year old extinct volcano in northern Arizona which Turrell is turning into a monumental observatory and work of art. Light installations throughout the grounds include
St Elmo's Breath, housed in an 18
th century water tower and
Seldom Seen Skyscape 2004 inside a wooden viewing chamber surrounded by trees. This exhibition has been 15 years in the making and definitely sounds well worth the wait.
Lightscape: James Turrell at Houghton,
Houghton Hall, Norfolk from 7th June - 24th October 2015, www.houghtonhall.com
