“Although light is coming down from the top of the piece, it appears to rise from the bottom like the light that rises in the east as the sun goes down in the west, when you are actually looking at the shadow of the earth projected into the atmosphere. In painting, two dimensions are used to allude to three dimensions. Here there is a picture plane which appears to have two dimensions, but that turns out not to be the case. There seems to be a surface that is not there. Here there is a sense of touch, a desire to feel, but there is no object, just as there is no image and no point of focus. There is only perception of itself. There is a tension from the state of desiring touch or from knowing there is something there to touch but not having done it. There is, of course, nothing to touch. The feeling comes with the eyes and the eyes have a feeling as important as physical touch. Just like the moment when you first meet someone and you have yet to touch, to kiss, or to make love. Then the tension exists from not having done it. Here the tension cannot be satisfied by touch and so it is sustained. The eyes do the touching.”
– James Turrell, from “James Turrell: A Retrospective” by
Notes:
- Photo: James Turrell’s Skyspace, Houston in Texas Monthly, June 2012. Quote via noosphe
- Post Title & Inspiration: Aldous Huxley: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.”
Live & Learn 
and the eyes are so very powerful – every view a masterpiece
LikeLiked by 1 person
So agree!
LikeLike
Fascinating. I always enjoy hearing an artist talk about his or her own work. This piece is remarkable. It pulsates with energy….
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really is. And I too love getting the inside Baseball from artists.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Wow … “The feeling comes with the eyes and the eyes have a feeling as important as physical touch. Just like the moment when you first meet someone and you have yet to touch, to kiss, or to make love. Then the tension exists from not having done it. Here the tension cannot be satisfied by touch and so it is sustained. The eyes do the touching.” … James Turrell, from “James Turrell: A Retrospective” by Michael Govan & Christine Y. Kim
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh Yes! Turrell knows…
LikeLiked by 1 person
He does!
LikeLike
Yummy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh so nice
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is!
LikeLike