Summer Solstice Is the Star in James Turrell’s New Installation at ARoS Aarhus Art Museum

Scandinavia takes the summer solstice seriously. In that spirit, ARoS Aarhus Art Museum unveiled artist James Turrell’s latest epic Skyspace, a permanent installation entitled As Seen Below—The Dome. The work bathes visitors in varying light and color from within, while a Pantheon-like opening above reminds them of the sky outside. When viewed from above, it resembles a grassy convex protuberance on the earth. “As Seen Below offers a collective experience driven by light and the poetry of seasons to emphasise our relationship to nature, the sky, and our shared planet,” explains Turrell, who has been producing Skyspaces since 1974.

As Seen Below offers three different brilliantly colorful modes of experience, varying with the time of day or night: Open Sky, Colour Shift, and Twilight. In Open Sky mode, the oculus is open. It closes for Colour Shift. These first two modes will be visible during all opening hours. Twilight mode, however, will require special booking, as it occurs solely during the sunrise and sunset hours.

“This is a transformative moment for ARoS. With As Seen Below, we are not only presenting a landmark installation by one of the most important artists of our time, but also creating a place of wonder, reflection, and connection,” says Rebecca Matthews, Museum Director and CEO of ARoS, continuing, “This remarkable work invites us to slow down, look anew, and experience our relationship with the world around us in a profoundly different way.”