Artists

James Turrell

Press release

James Turrell (born 1943 in Los Angeles) is undoubtedly one of the most important artists of our time. Some time ago, the Children’s Hospital Zurich installed his light room “My Light” in a pavilion, where patients, relatives and staff find peace and comfort. A large Turrell installation entitled “My Sky” is now planned for their new building, which will be completed in 2024. The Graphische Sammlung ETH Zurich is taking this as an opportunity to present its rich collection of prints by the artist in an exhibition.
James Turrell created his first ever prints in 1984. Inspired by the publisher Peter Blum, he found the ideal partner in the Zurich copperplate printer Peter Kneubühler. Since 2008, the Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich has owned over 150 prints by James Turrell from the estate of the Peter Kneubühler Foundation, including proofs and various states. They are at the centre of the presentation.

Today, Turrell’s works are of interest not least because they are situated at the interface of various disciplines, including the natural sciences. There are points of contact with architecture, land art, astronomy, aerospace, physics, earth sciences, medicine, perceptual psychology and mysticism. If an exhibition is now planned in the Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich, this multi-perspectivity on his work will be the focus enabling a new, sometimes unexpected view of his work. At the same time, such aspects will be discussed in depth at an international scientific conference taking place in fall 2024.

The results of the congress are planned to be published in a comprehensive conference volume with well-founded text contributions.

Curated by Dr Linda Schädler, Head Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich