James Turrell Opens New Miami-Inspired Installation at Superblue

Shorelines, sunsets, and Art Deco hues spur his latest ‘Ganzfeld’ piece.

Summary

Light and space luminary James Turrell has unveiled a new commission, "Blue Sea Sky," at Superblue Miami

Part of his famed 'Ganzfeld' series, the installation translates the hues of Miami — its beaches, flora, and architecture — into immersive fields of light

The artwork challenges our perception of reality through uniform fields of light, depth, and distance

James Turrell lifted the veil on a new installation at Superblue Miami. The first release hot off the largest-ever Skyspace in Denmark, “Blue Sea Sky” arrives as the latest Ganzfeld installation, created in response to the sumptuous shorelines nearby.

As with all of Turrell’s Ganzfeld pieces, the installation works through its namesake ganzfeld effect: white rooms are soaked in uniform fields of light, overwhelming viewers’ perception of distance and depth. Subtle shifts in levels and hue confuse perceptual reality into surreal experiences of light and space.

The new commission replaces “AKHU,” another Ganzfeld installation that inaugurated the institution in 2021. In place of the first loan’s rich jewel tones, the colors of “Blue Sea Sky” were specifically modeled after those of South Florida. Aquatic blues drawn from the sea fade into palm greens, peachy sunset oranges, and playful pinks inspired by neon signs and Art Deco architecture mounted around the city.

“‘Blue Sea Sky’ brings people together in a shared experience of immersion in pure color, pushing the limits of human perception,” Dent-Brocklehurst, Superblue’s chief curator, penned in a statement. “It’s difficult to speak about Turrell without including one of his own wonderful quotes. Of the many, the following is perhaps my favorite: ‘In an age of consumerism and materialism, I traffic in blue sky and colored air.’”

The installation is now on view in Miami.

Superblue Miami
1101 NW 23rd St,
Miami, FL 33127