National Gallery's latest - James Turrell installation 1
Exterior view. The walkway walls are not curved, this is an artifact of it being a 180 degree panorama. The NGA building is on the left. Traffic noise and the Dept of Environment, Water and Heritage building on the right side of this, out of view.
"Within without" is what Turrell has called this excellent installation piece / sculpture / thingo. I only discovered it by accident the other day, it's not yet been opened but it's a wonderful place, destined to become a notable piece of Canberra.
They seem to have been working on the National Gallery (NGA) extensions for so long I'd forgotten that they might ever finish. And as I pass by most days it didn't enter my head we'd get something as interesting as this in place of the old carpark. (Apparently the new galleries are also stunning so looking forward to seeing them when they open -- almost as much as seeing clear roads with no machinery or glacial speed limits).
The blurbs say Turrell works with light and it's obviously true, but also it's a very neat reflection of Canberra, at least Canberra icons. Look at this from outside and you see Parliament house (built under a grassy hill), Anzac Parade (colours and perspective) and the War Memorial (big grey dome, not visible here). Brutal architecture sometimes done well, angles, water features, native veg and lawns ... it's all here, so very Canberra.
Inside is wondrous for contemplative folk. It has a square view of the sky from outside the dome and a round more restricted view of a sky portion from the inside. When inside the dome you sit on heated seats and can peer up at that bit of sky, or watch the shape the sun makes on the walls, or the interesting shades of greyness or colour as the light changes. It won't change anyone's life, but it's interesting and worth a look if you like this sort of thing.
The weather was not the best for photography or viewing yesterday but I'll be back. I was told it's designed for peak viewing pleasure at sunrise and sunset, and most mysterious at night. When the weather clears, I'll be there.
National Gallery's latest - James Turrell installation 1
Exterior view. The walkway walls are not curved, this is an artifact of it being a 180 degree panorama. The NGA building is on the left. Traffic noise and the Dept of Environment, Water and Heritage building on the right side of this, out of view.
"Within without" is what Turrell has called this excellent installation piece / sculpture / thingo. I only discovered it by accident the other day, it's not yet been opened but it's a wonderful place, destined to become a notable piece of Canberra.
They seem to have been working on the National Gallery (NGA) extensions for so long I'd forgotten that they might ever finish. And as I pass by most days it didn't enter my head we'd get something as interesting as this in place of the old carpark. (Apparently the new galleries are also stunning so looking forward to seeing them when they open -- almost as much as seeing clear roads with no machinery or glacial speed limits).
The blurbs say Turrell works with light and it's obviously true, but also it's a very neat reflection of Canberra, at least Canberra icons. Look at this from outside and you see Parliament house (built under a grassy hill), Anzac Parade (colours and perspective) and the War Memorial (big grey dome, not visible here). Brutal architecture sometimes done well, angles, water features, native veg and lawns ... it's all here, so very Canberra.
Inside is wondrous for contemplative folk. It has a square view of the sky from outside the dome and a round more restricted view of a sky portion from the inside. When inside the dome you sit on heated seats and can peer up at that bit of sky, or watch the shape the sun makes on the walls, or the interesting shades of greyness or colour as the light changes. It won't change anyone's life, but it's interesting and worth a look if you like this sort of thing.
The weather was not the best for photography or viewing yesterday but I'll be back. I was told it's designed for peak viewing pleasure at sunrise and sunset, and most mysterious at night. When the weather clears, I'll be there.