James Turrell Skyspace Opens at Mexico’s Tec de Monterrey University
James Turrell, Skyspace Espíritu de Luz (2022). Photo: Adrián Llaguno.
The James Turrell Skyspace Espíritu de Luz (Spirit of Light) officially opened on the Tec de Monterrey campus in Mexico on 22 February.
‘This is not my light and in fact this is not my experience. It’s yours. This is a piece of the Tec de Monterrey. In the end I leave her and the people who are here will know more about her than I do,’ Turrell said.
Located in the Central Park’s Plaza Floramiento, the work comprises an oval-shaped mound of earth with an open aperture that presents a circle of the sky to viewers inside the Skyspace. A sequence of lights shone on the installation’s ceiling creates contrasting colours that change the viewer’s perception of the sky.
The project was commissioned by DistritoTec, an innovative urban development project led by the university, and developed with the Tec de Monterrey Arts Initiative, and the AC Art Laboratory. It was produced by Mexico City gallery OMR in collaboration with Zurich’s Häusler Contemporary.
‘Through this installation, the mission of DistritoTec is strengthened, which is committed to art as a way to promote coexistence, provoke encounters, generate innovative ideas and promote human flourishing,’ DistritoTec said in a statement.
It was commissioned to pay homage to the life and work of industrialist Don Eugenio Garza Sada, an MIT graduate who founded Mexico’s Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) school system, and businessman Eugenio Garza Lagüera, who served on the boards of ITESM and Femsa, Latin America’s largest beverage corporation.
On 18 February, the Pabellón Expositivo Arte A.C. opened the exhibition James Turrell: Espíritu de Luz to share how the project was created and constructed.
Skyspace: Spirit of Light is the third of Turrell’s Skyspaces in Mexico. The others are in the botanical gardens of Culiacán, Sinaloa, and the Tree of Light Amphitheatre in Yucatán.
Turrell now has over 90 Skyspaces worldwide. Other galleries Turrell frequently collaborates with include Pace and Almine Rech. —[O]
Main image: James Turrell, Skyspace Espíritu de Luz (2022). Photo: Adrián Llaguno.
A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.
Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.
Learn more about Ocula Magazine
Showcasing the best of the art world.
Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.
Learn more about Ocula Membership
Specialises in the sale of major artworks.
Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.
Learn more about our team and services