James Turrell has been doing his thing with light and space for a long time, well before Drake came along and slyly ripped him off (for the record, Turrell has stated that he feels extremely flattered that Drake “fucks with him”). The artist has been creating immersive and awe-inspiring works for over 50 years and is primarily interested in the multitude of ways that light can be displayed, manipulated and controlled and how this alters human perception. Viewing Turrell’s works can be disorientating, beautiful, confusing and overwhelming all at once, so it’s safe to say he’s an expert at what he does.
Having recently been commissioned by QAGOMA to create a new work on the building’s facade for their 10th birthday, the artist will soon have three permanent works in Australia, the other two at MONA in Hobart and NGA in Canberra respectively, so with new Turrell work hitting our shores soon, what better time to take a look back at the incredible creations Turrell has conjured up over the years.
- Words: Cait Emma Burke