James Turrell
“Aten Reign”, 2013
“Skyspace” Series
The Guggenheim Rotunda
“Skyspace” is a series of works that James Turrell has been continuously creating since 1974. As of 2024, approximately 85 installations have been realized worldwide, each designed and constructed according to specific site conditions. “Aten Reign” was exhibited in 2013 at the Guggenheim Museum’s rotunda: a fusion of iconic architecture and nature, graceful curves, and a grand sense of space, along with divine beauty. The core elements of the “Skyspace” series are: a closed or semi-closed tranquil space; a ceiling precisely cut with geometric skylights; artificial light and natural light changing in sync, presenting the sky in varying colors and depths.
James Turrell (born 1943 in Los Angeles) holds a pioneering position and influence in the realms of light, space, and perception. His light installations are referred to as “revolutionary” art, elevating “light” from an invisible medium to a tangible, immersive “entity,” allowing the audience to become co-creators of the work. Turrell introduced the concept of “perceptual art,” infusing religious meditative experiences into minimalist forms, laying the conceptual foundation for later immersive, interactive, and VR/AR art.
