JAMES TURRELL AT ONE: GAGOSIAN LE BOURGET

Immersive Installations That Blur Reality

James Turrell has just unveiled a true masterpiece with At One, a stunning exhibition featuring 32 exclusive artworks at Gagosian Le Bourget. Notably, it is the largest exhibition dedicated to Turrell’s work in over 25 years, presenting a world where light becomes a tangible presence that defies easy description. In his signature style, Turrell once again transforms light into a living entity—one that not only alters perception but also shapes space and dissolves physical boundaries. Furthermore, the viewer is no longer merely an observer; instead, they become an active participant in At One, as they are suspended between visibility and invisibility, sensation and disorientation.

A Monumental Return: Turrell’s Largest Showcase in Decades

The exhibition presents two striking new installations. First, Ganzfeld immerses visitors in an all-white pavilion flooded with waves of LED-generated colored light. As a result, edges and even the sense of time blur, evoking a dreamlike, almost ethereal realm. Moreover, the experience is as spatial as it is visual, creating an uncanny sensation of merging with the light itself. Meanwhile, the second installation, Either/Or, from Turrell’s wedgework series, pushes light’s transformative power even further. At first, the room is so dark it obscures one’s own body; however, it suddenly shifts into a vividly colored, LED-lit space. Here, the colors feel almost tangible, creating the illusion of solid forms. In this setting, light not only bends and fills space but also toys with perception, crafting an unforgettable experience where reality and illusion seamlessly intertwine.

A Meditative Play of Light: The Elliptical Glass Series

Beyond the main installations, At One explores Turrell’s fascination with light and space across decades and diverse mediums. A standout is the Elliptical Glass Series, featuring illuminated glass panels embedded within the walls. These panels, with ever-shifting colors, create a serene yet hypnotic effect. Their geometric shapes, though simple at first glance, seem almost physical through the radiance of light. The slow color transitions invite a meditative engagement with each piece. As viewers observe, each work appears to expand and contract, constantly reshaping the surrounding environment. Through this, Turrell redefines spatial boundaries, urging us to rethink perception.

In conclusion, in this piece, a cube of light appears to hover in mid-air, forming a three-dimensional shape crafted entirely from light. As viewers move through the space, the shape shifts—sometimes appearing flat, sometimes solid—constantly defying full definition. This playful manipulation of light highlights Turrell’s profound understanding of how our minds construct reality from the simplest forms.

The exhibition runs from October 15, 2024, to March 30, 2025, at Gagosian’s gallery just outside Paris. Don’t miss the chance to experience it firsthand!”

Want More? Take a look at Gagosian at Art Basel Paris: A Dialogue Across Time

Alessandro Cariani