James Turrell - Contemporary Evening Sale London Sunday, July 5, 2009 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Private collection, London (acquired directly from the artist)

  • Exhibited

    Santa Monica, The Main and Hill Studio, Mendota Hotel, Light Projections, 1968

  • Literature

    D. Anfam and J.Turrell, James Turrell: Projection Works 1967-69, London, 2004, p. 39 (illustrated)

  • Catalogue Essay

    Acro, Blue from 1968 is a cross-corner piece from James Turrell's first body of work, the light projection series. Executed between1966 and 1969 while the young artist was still a student in Los Angeles, the series explores the relationship between light and space. In the present lot, vivid blue rays of light are projected into the corner of two adjoining walls to create the optical illusion of a rectangular solid surface.Although created only by light, the mysterious space seems to have mass and weight as if it were a three dimensional object. In line with the Minimalist and Conceptual movements that dominated the American art scene in the 60s,Turrell's elegant and simple installations combine the principles of sculpture and science to create a new artistic language. In fact,Turrell, who has often been referred to as the‘sculptor of light,' categorises his art as perceptual. Influenced by theoretical physics and creationist theology,Turrell's extensive and highly acclaimed oeuvre deals with the human perception of worldly matter and supernatural phenomenon.
    Image courtesy of Florian Holzherr

6

Acro, Blue

1968
Light projection installation comprised of Xenon projector charged to MRI wire.
Installation dimensions variable.
This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist.

Estimate
£100,000 - 150,000 

Contemporary Evening Sale

29 June 2009, 7pm
London