Skyspaces
James Turrell is a contemporary artist, who works mainly with light, both natural and artificial. A Skyspace is based on the principle of cutting or modelling an opening through the ceiling of an enclosed structure.
Skyspaces present an interesting juxtaposition between indoors and outdoors, in that they bring the sky down to “replace” the ceiling, creating a space that seems enclosed but is completely open to the sky and the elements. These elements have the ability to change the mood of the space and the experience of the viewer.
The Deer Shelter
During 1993, Turrell had been commissioned to do some work for Robert Hopper, in Halifax. During this period he spent much of his time in the grounds of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, exploring the many buildings and architectural features. It was here that he found a 19th century deer shelter, a brick structure that was built on to the face of an old quarry.
The shelter was in considerable disrepair, But Turrell set about not only restoring it, but also expanding upon it, so that it may become a refuge once again, albeit for humans rather than deer. After 13 years of work, the Deer Shelter has gone through many changes. The side arches have been opened up and holes have been puched through the walls behind them to create a tunnel into a square chamber, excavated from within a hill, which contains heated concrete benches around the edges of the room, and a rectangular space missing from the ceiling so that the sky may be seen. It has become a place for people to relax and commune with nature – the nature in this case being the sky.
“Deer Shelter Skyspace is a work of art that acts as an invitation to look upwards. Turrell cannot control what is seen there, any more than he can control the elements.” – Gerrit Willems, The Sensuous Lushness of Light, 1996
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