McMahon,
DanJuly 13, 2012 1:29 PM
I am very impressed by James Turrell's
"Wolfsburg Project". It was first exhibited at the Kunstmuseum in Germany. It is
very different from any installation I have ever experienced. Turrell uses light
in a very interesting way. For instance, his "Ganzfeld Piece" is a walk-in
"light sculpture". It allows the observer to interact with changes in "color,
surface, and space" in a way that alter's the viewer's perception. For example,
in what looks to be a 2-D picture of framed light, you actually have the
entrance to a 3-D lighted room. (However, you can't really tell that until
someone enters or exits it.) On the other hand, as the model of "Roden Crater"
shows, he can create something interesting even inside the caldera of an extinct
volcano. Turrell is turning that geologic feature into one of the largest works
of "land art" on this planet. His multi-purpose creation:
1)functions as a work of art, 2)as a Stonehenge-like observatory, and 3)as a place of meditation. Finally, his "Wedgework Piece" uses minimal light to trick the observer's eye. After the viewer's eyes have "dark adapted", to the reduced light levels, this artwork begins to change. The observer begins to see things that are not really there or see things differently that are there. (Similar in a way, to the "Ganzfeld Piece". Which uses the Ganzfeld or "Total Field" effect to visually fool the eyes into seeing novel images. How?
By depriving the eyes of needed visual cues, the brain is tricked into producing them when and where they do not exist.) However, here you have "dark adaptation" creating an almost hallucinatory artistic effect. I thoroughly enjoyed being "fooled" by this talented artist.
1)functions as a work of art, 2)as a Stonehenge-like observatory, and 3)as a place of meditation. Finally, his "Wedgework Piece" uses minimal light to trick the observer's eye. After the viewer's eyes have "dark adapted", to the reduced light levels, this artwork begins to change. The observer begins to see things that are not really there or see things differently that are there. (Similar in a way, to the "Ganzfeld Piece". Which uses the Ganzfeld or "Total Field" effect to visually fool the eyes into seeing novel images. How?
By depriving the eyes of needed visual cues, the brain is tricked into producing them when and where they do not exist.) However, here you have "dark adaptation" creating an almost hallucinatory artistic effect. I thoroughly enjoyed being "fooled" by this talented artist.
