James Turrell: Elliptic, Ecliptic

Elliptic, Ecliptic belongs to the series of Skyspaces, buildings (in this case oval-shaped) in which viewers are invited to take a seat and observe the sky through a narrow space freed of all visual pollution and illuminated by a device that the artist conceals in the structure. Like Yves Klein, who sought to paint the sky, Turrell sculpts it in space and color by tinting its surroundings. The concentration within a confining space of the color blue, which runs from the lightest at the start of the day to the darkest at night, brings out its intensity and the immensity of the infinite. Elliptic, Ecliptic is one of the artist's earliest works, realized in 1999, and is presented permanently at the Venet Foundation. "James Turrell is a builder of temples in that he reinvents places for the aura, the play of the near and the far, the distancing of viewers and their loss of touch." During daytime opening hours, the Skyspace is accessible to visitors, but its light sequence is not activated. Once a week, the Foundation hosts an evening opening, offering the opportunity to experience the Skyspace in its full light program while also visiting the sculpture park and temporary exhibitions. Visits are guided only, in groups of approximately 25 visitors, and advance online reservation is mandatory.