See James Turrell’s Spectacular Light Projections at Houghton Hall

James Turrell, West Façade Illumination, 2015.
Photo: Hugo Glendinning Courtesy of the artist and Houghton Hall

What happens when you mix a Palladian country house with an immaterial light installation?

From June 7 to October 24, visitors to Norfolk, UK can find out, when “LightScape: James Turrell at Houghton Hall,” an exhibition of 19 of the American artist’s works, will be on show at–and on–the Neoclassical mansion (see James Turrell to Exhibit at Britain’s Houghton Hall in 2015).

James Turrell, West Façade Illumination, 2015
Photo: Hugo Glendinning. Image courtesy of the artist and Houghton Hall

The most striking piece included is the site-specific Façade Illumination (2015), a 45-minute lightshow beginning at dusk on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer, that will illuminate the west facade of the sober building with lively color.

David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, owns the estate and is an avid fan and collector of Turrell. He has long wanted to host an exhibition of the artist’s works (see National Gallery of Art in Canberra Offers Naked Tours of James Turrell’s Artwork).

James Turrell, Enzu Green, (1968), Projection Piece
Photo: Peter Huggins Courtesy the artist

In 2004, Turrell’s Skyspace was the first contemporary artwork hosted by Houghton Hall. A long and productive relationship began between the artist and the Cholmondeleys, culminating in this exhibition.

James Turrell Seldom Seen, (2002)
Photo: Peter Huggins Courtesy the artist