James Turrell: A Retrospective

by Michael Govan, Christine Y. Kim, Florian Holzherr (Photographer)

Copublished with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for the major touring retrospective and concurrent exhibitions at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, this comprehensive volume illuminates the origins and motivations of James Turrell's incredibly diverse and exciting body of work--from his Mendota studio days to his monumental work-in-progress Roden Crater. Whether he's projecting shapes on a flat wall or into the corner of a gallery space, James Turrell is perpetually asking us to "go inside and greet the light"--evoking his Quaker upbringing. In fact, all of Turrell's work has been influenced by his life experiences with aviation, science, and psychology, and as a key player in Los Angeles's exploding art scene of the 1960s. Enhanced by thoughtful essays and an illuminating interview with the artist, this monograph explores every aspect of Turrell's career to date--from his early geometric light projections, prints, and drawings, through his installations exploring sensory deprivation and seemingly unmodulated fields of colored light, to recent two-dimensional experiments with holograms. It also features an in-depth look at Roden Crater, a site-specific intervention into the landscape near Flagstaff, Arizona, which will be presented through models, plans, photographs, and drawings. Fans of this highly influential artist will find much to savor in this wide-ranging and beautiful book, featuring specially commissioned new photography by Florian Holzherr. 250 color illustrations

Genres: Art, Art Design, Reference

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 11, 2013

Reviews

[Bart · Rating 5 out of 5]

(...)

The book starts with a 20-page introductory essay by Michael Govan that provides a broad overview, embedding Turrell’s practice in history. It is followed by an in-depth 10-page interview with the artist by Christine Kim that covers his entire life. After that there are 9 chapters, each focusing on a specific area of his work, each with an introductory text of a few pages. There’s also a 11-page essay by E.C. Krupp, astronomer and director of the Griffith Observatory in LA, and a 14-page essay by Alison de Lima Greene, a curator. There is quite a lot of text to digest, but I liked it all. Repetition is kept to a minimum and the quality of the writing is high: this truly is the definitive general monograph on the artist so far.

Throughout the book not only the depth of Turrell’s engagement with his subject matter became clear, but also his status as a contemporary artist. Much of his work is expensive to build, and his massive Roden Crater project – near Flagstaff, Arizona – defies all commercial laws. It illustrates how much money there’s floating around in the world, with billionaires, donations and Kanye West a prerequisite for the project – the 2008 financial crisis delayed the opening of the Crater for a few years. Even though it is not about ideology or anything else but the perception of light on our planet, it seems Roden Crater could not exists outside the capitalist system, and as such it is maybe a fitting 20th and 21st century version of similar monuments like Stonehenge, as it seems like that was a more communal, egalitarian project. At the same time, in the end, Roden Crater will cost less than certain Picassos. Not a defense per se, only a remark that again points at our social structures. While Roden Crater might be a sign of the times, Turrell designed it for the long run, as its optimum will be 2000 years from now. He started the building project in 1974, and the latest word is that it will be completed in about 5 years – I hope to visit it someday, if entry fees will be democratic that is.

(...)

Full review on Weighing A Pig Doesn't Fatten it.

[Elysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Turrell's use of artificial coloured light to influence and alter spaces and perspectives. Turrell's purple/pink/blue light colour schemes inspired my own coloured lighting in my most recent assessment task.

[Alfonso Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful retrospectives ever done on a living artist. James Turrell has made of light (and shadows) something material and immaterial whenever he wishes for it, and his instrument is not light itself or the fire that produces it, but the perception of the viewer. The eye of the beholder.
Through a series of essays about his life-long practice, we get a broader understanding of his art and the sources of both his enlightenment and obsessions.

[Edgars Treimanis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst you have to experience / immerse into James Turrell work for yourself - this book goes well in-depth into artists thinking, metaphors, calculations and even science behind it. Changed me, will change how you view light.

[Katelyn G · Rating 5 out of 5]

love Turrell's work and the commentary in this book

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Light is not so much something that reveals as it is itself the revelation."

[Christian Juarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I attribute my love of art and art history to Turrell, particularly after I learned about his artistry while attending his retrospective exhibit at LACMA in 2013.

To read this catalogue, is to understand how his work has cemented his position in the ouvre of modern art. Some essays aren’t as well written as others, but the chronology of his life and the exploration of his medium makes for an entertaining read.

[Mills College Library]

779 G7211 2013

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful analysis and meditation on Turrell's work.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh so good!