James Turrell
«The Circular Glass»

Exhibition: September 11 – December 22, 2020

Häusler Contemporary is pleased to open the new season with the eight solo exhibition of James Turrell. Selected works by Turrell document his long-time and groundbreaking artistic research on the subject of light and allow us to experience it impressively in the exclusive presentation of the new work type «The Circular Glass».
Following a series of dialogical exhibitions on the subject of light, Häusler Contemporary dedicates the second half of the year to the artist who is a pioneer, luminary and benchmark in this field: James Turrell (*1943, Los Angeles, US, lives in Flagstaff, US). Since the beginning of his career, he has been exploring the various manifestations of light and its relation to our perception of the world. With his impressive walk-in installations and projects of art in architecture he inspires people from all over the world and various cultural backgrounds.

The Circular Glass Series «Ahku»

We are very pleased to exclusively present an installation by James Turrell from the new series «The Circular Glass». Conceived for an everyday architectural environment, these spectacular works enable a visual and sensory experience of light as was previously reserved for larger installations by the artist. The unique pieces in this series are akin to the «Small Glass» series from 2016, which has attracted great attention from collectors and a broad public. The «Circular Glasses» too are individually programmed using the latest LED technology. Their physical structure relates to Turrell's «Shallow Space Constructions» from the late 1960s and early 1970s. The artist thus continues his long-standing exploration of the technological opportunities in relation to sensory perception practices and invites the viewer to a meditative experience.

Each «Circular Glass» fascinates by deploying the captivating effect of light on a plane surface. Observing this breathtaking play of light, the two-dimensional plane transforms into an indefinable depth in which the gaze can loose itself. As typical for James Turrell’s work, the «Circular Glasses» thus challenge the viewers perception of light and space.

Facing a «Circular Glass», the viewer perceives a circular plane of light that, unlike a projection, seems to be dense and permeable at the same time and that changes its colors in a gradual flow. The color gradient is reminiscent of an animated atmospheric painting in which colors drift from the center to the edges. At times, a single blue, green, or purple hue floods the plane before imploding into a different color. A new aura-like circle forms and radiates outwards in different gradations, as the process begins anew. The sheet of glass is set behind a cut-out section of wall but is not level with it: a Small gap remains, a narrow spatial zone that provides an additional dimension of depth. Each of the dominant colors in turn radiates out over the sharp edges of the circular opening and into the environing space, contaminating the walls and floor.


James Turrell «The Circular Glass» | Installation view Häusler Contemporary Zürich, 2020 | Photo: Florian Holzherr
James Turrell «The Circular Glass» | Installation view Häusler Contemporary Zürich, 2020 | Photo: Florian Holzherr

First Light-Series

James Turrell «Catso» (First Light), 1989-1990 | Photo: Florian Holzherr
Being long lasting supporters and promoters of James Turrell's work, we complementary show carefully selected works that demonstrate the broad spectrum of his approach, tracing a bow from his artistic beginnings up to the present day:
The rare sheets of the «First Light» series, created in 1989/90, illustrate his early projection works from 1966–67 and in their titles reveal their relation to space: Thus the works of the «Single-wall projection pieces» are called «Phantom» and «Fargo», the «Cross corner projection pieces» «Afrum» and «Squat», among others. These aquatint etchings were created in collaboration with the major copperplate printer Peter Kneubühler in Zurich and hence, they reveal Turrell's affinity for printing technology. The portfolio, consisting of 20 sheets, was first shown with an accompanying catalog at the Kunsthalle Bern in 1991 and originates from a Swiss collection.




«Light is a powerful substance. We have a primal connection to it. But, for something so powerful, situations for its felt presence are fragile. I form it as much as the material allows. I like to work with it so that you feel it physically, so you feel the presence of light inhabiting a space. I like the quality of feeling that is felt not only with the eyes.»
James Turrell

James Turrell «The Circular Glass» | Installation view Häusler Contemporary Zürich, 2020 | Photo: Florian Holzherr

James Turrell «The Circular Glass» | Installation view Häusler Contemporary Zürich, 2020 | Photo: Florian Holzherr

James Turrell «The Circular Glass» | Installation view Häusler Contemporary Zürich, 2020 | Photo: Florian Holzherr
James Turrell «The Circular Glass» | Installation view Häusler Contemporary Zürich, 2020 | Photo: Florian Holzherr

Roden Crater

James Turrell «The Circular Glass» | Installation view Häusler Contemporary Zürich, 2020 | photo: Florian Holzherr

For «Roden Crater» Turrell has been planning and implementing a continuously expanding network of subterranean rooms and corridors inside the extinct volcano. The various rooms, which the artist defines as «Skyspaces», are sensitive to varying lighting conditions; fitted with open skylights in the roof, they are progressively lit by artificial sources as the night sets in. A simple architectural intervention thus allows spectators to experience the universe as a new, expanded space. In «Roden Crater» nature and art conjoin to form a total artwork that triggers a wholly unique sensual experience, as the artist explains: “It’s an artificial intervention but in harmony with nature.”

With sensuous and atmospheric pigment prints and maps the exhibition refers to the «Roden Crater» that Turrell has been continuously converting into something like a «celestial observatory» since the 1970s. The new «Roden Crater Site Plan», an edition of large-format inkjet blueprints, provides an idea of the current state of development of this monumental «Work in Progress», whilst bronze and plaster models illustrate on a small-scale individual «chambers» of Turrell's Opus Magnum.


James Turrell, «My Sky» Kinderspital Zürich, 2014 | Photo: Florian Holzherr
James Turrell «The Circular Glass» | Installation view Häusler Contemporary Zürich, 2020 | Photo: Florian Holzherr

James Turrell, «Roden Crater Site Plan», 2020 | Ed. 100 | Photo: Florian Holzherr

Works

James Turrell, «Afrum» (First Light), 1989-1990 Aquatint etching | Ed. 9/30 | Sheet 107 x 76 cm | Frame 113 x 81 cm | Photo: Florian Holzherr Sold
Inquiry
James Turrell, «Jones - Jones» (First Light), 1989-1990 Aquatint etching | AP | Sheet 107 x 75 cm | Frame 113 x 81 cm | Photo: Florian Holzherr Available
Inquiry
James Turrell, Circular Glass Series, 2020 Glass, computerized LED, Aluminum, Corian | Diameter 120 cm | Frame 232.5 x 42 cm | Runtime 1 hour 59 minutes | Photo: Florian Holzherr Available
Inquiry
James Turrell, «Catso» (First Light), 1989-1990 Aquatint etching | AP | Sheet 107 x 75 cm | Frame 113 x 81 cm | Photo: Florian Holzherr Available
Inquiry
James Turrell, «Stufe» (First Light), 1989-1990 Aquatint etching | AP | Sheet 107 x 75 cm | Frame 113 x 81 cm | Photo: Florian Holzherr Available
Inquiry
James Turrell, «Suite from Aten Reign», 2014 Aquatint on Hahnemühle Copperplate | Ed. 30, AP 6/6 | Sheet 88.3 x 55.9 cm | Frame 114 x 81 cm Available
Inquiry
James Turrell, «Suite from Aten Reign», 2014 Woodcut on Kizukishi paper | Ed. 30, AP 6/6 | Sheet 67.3 x 47.6 cm | Frame 83 x 63 cm Sold
Inquiry
James Turrell, «Suite from Aten Reign», 2014 Aquatint on Hahnemühle Copperplate | Ed. 30, AP 6/6 | Sheet 88.3 x 55.9 cm | Frame 114 x 81 cm Sold
Inquiry
James Turrell, «My First Roden Crater Photo Mosaic T1 Camera, KC1 Lens», 2009 B&W Carbon Print | Ed. 6/30 | Sheet 36.80 x 86.40 cm | Frame 65.80 x 110 cm Available
Inquiry
James Turrell, «Grand Falls Next to Roden Crater», 2009 B&W Carbon Print | Ed. 6/30 | Sheet 60 x 60.5 cm | Frame 104 x 91 cm Available
Inquiry
James Turrell, «Blue Sky over Roden Crater», 2009 Color Carbon Print | Ed. 11/30 | Sheet 61 x 76.2 cm | Frame 88 x 105 cm Available
Inquiry
James Turrell, «Sunset at Roden Crater», 2009 Color Carbon Print | Ed. 18/30 | Sheet 61 x 76.2 cm | Frame 88 x 105 cm Available
Inquiry
James Turrell, «Roden Crater Site Plan», 2020 Inkjet Blueprint | Ed. 100 | Sheet 112 x 137 cm | Frame 113.50 x 139 cm Available
Inquiry
James Turrell, «My Sky» Kinderspital Zürich, 2014 Wood, Plaster, Plinth | Sculpture 55 x 86 x 86 cm | Plinth 93.50 x 88 x 88 cm Available
Inquiry
James Turrell, «Sun and Moon Space», 2006 Bronze, Plaster, Wooden plinth | Ed. 2/12 | 2-parts Sculpture each 23.50 x 43 x 21.50 cm | Plinth each 120 x 44.40 x 22 cm Available
Inquiry
James Turrell, «Fire Inside», 2006 Plaster, Plinth | Sculpture 85.70 x 85.70 cm | Plinth 93.50 x 88 x 88 cm Available
Inquiry

James Turrell's Roden Crater | Los Angeles County Museum of Art | 2020


James Turrell: You Who Look | Art + Film | Los Angeles County Museum of Art | 2017


James Turrell | Circular Glass Series «Ahku» | Häusler Contemporary Zürich | 2020