James Turrell: Twilight Resplendence

The James Turrell Wing at Museum SAN houses five installations by the artist: Skyspace (Twilight Resplendence), Space-Division, Horizon Room, Wedgework, and a Ganzfeld piece. To see the works, visitors must first cross the Stone Garden, inspired by the old tombs of the Silla Kingdom (668-918), then walk through a pitch-black corridor, which leaves the eyes sensitive to the tiniest hint of light. The Skyspace is a naked-eye observatory, a quiet and contemplative space for visitors. It is available for observation during sunrise and sunset. While colored lights illuminate the walls, it affects the way we see the sky and produces the special experience of his work. As James Turrell points out, the Space-Division Pieces "share a similarity with the Skyspace series in their sense of closure at the plane of the wall." The installation can be experienced within Skyspace, as a volume of space floating overhead. The Horizon Room is proposed to build connecting Skyspace and a square frame is situated on black stairs like the altar of light. The viewers are able to run across between two and three dimensional plane through the actual experience. Some works launch a program at certain times; visitors should check the operation schedule in advance. After purchasing a ticket at the Welcome Center, it takes about 20 minutes to reach the James Turrell Gallery. Because photography can distort the essence of Turrell's light-based work, photography is strictly prohibited inside the gallery.