James Turrell Unveils Largest Museum Skyspace at ARoS Aarhus Art Museum

A new monumental light installation by artist James Turrell has opened its doors at ARoS Aarhus Art Museum in Denmark. Titled “As Seen Below – The Dome,” the Skyspace marks Turrell’s 100th such work and is his largest ever created within a museum context. The installation offers visitors a subterranean experience, drawing them below ground to contemplate the sky through a carefully crafted architectural lens.

The Skyspace is situated within a new subterranean room at the museum, a significant addition to ARoS’s campus, which already features large-scale installations like Olafur Eliasson’s “Your rainbow panorama.” The circular chamber measures sixteen meters (52 feet) in height and forty meters (130 feet) in diameter, providing a unique space for exploring light, perception, and the natural elements.

Architectural Approach and Visitor Experience

The journey to “As Seen Below” begins with an underground corridor, intentionally designed to separate visitors from the urban surface and prepare them for the immersive experience. This approach is integral to Turrell’s artistic concept, guiding visitors from the earth towards the heavens. Inside the dome, a large circular aperture frames the sky, becoming the central focus. With minimal visual distractions within the space, the viewer’s attention is drawn to the interplay of color, scale, and the evolving boundary between the built environment and the atmosphere.

Turrell, a key figure in the Light and Space movement, has dedicated over five decades to exploring light as a medium to be experienced and questioned. He describes the artwork as enabling visitors to “realize that the very act of seeing is the artwork itself.” The installation operates through distinct modes: “Open Sky,” where the aperture remains open to the sky; “Colour Shift,” where the aperture closes and artificial light washes the interior walls; and “Twilight” sessions, which synchronize artificial light with natural daylight during sunrise and sunset to create a dynamic dialogue between the sky and the chamber.

Museum Expansion and Artistic Context

The opening of “As Seen Below” is part of a broader expansion of ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, developed in collaboration with Schmidt Hammer Lassen and Aarhus Municipality. This expansion includes The Salling Gallery, a subterranean exhibition space for contemporary art, and ARoS Art Square, an outdoor area for art presentations. The project was made possible through funding from the Salling Foundations, the New Carlsberg Foundation, Aarhus Municipality, ARoS, and an anonymous private donor.

Seen from above, the Skyspace appears as a subtle circular form integrated into the museum’s grounds, complementing the existing architecture. Photographer Danica O. Kus documented the installation prior to the museum’s public opening on June 19th, 2026, capturing the ethereal atmosphere of the space.

Key facts
| Feature | Detail |
|—|—|
| Artist | James Turrell |
| Artwork | As Seen Below – The Dome (Skyspace) |
| Location | ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, Aarhus, Denmark |
| Significance | Turrell’s 100th Skyspace and largest museum installation |
| Opening Date | January 2026 (ahead of June 2026 summer solstice) |

This new installation by James Turrell offers a profound opportunity for visitors to engage with art and perception in a uniquely immersive environment. It highlights the intersection of architecture, light, and the natural world, resonating with Paionia7’s focus on innovative design and artistic expression in the built environment.

Source: https://www.designboom.com/art/james-turrell-largest-skyspace-aros-aarhus-art-museum-photographed-danica-o-kus-denmark/

Datos clave