Alone, Together. Berlin, Germany. December 2018.
Ganzfeld “Aural” by James Turrell.
In my in opinion, the most fascinating part of experiencing Turrell’s works is that you can be surrounded by people, but still feel completely alone with it. Often, his pieces are about the solo, mental experience. Ganzfeld “Aural” is a prime example. While there may be several individuals in this same shared space, the perceptual experience is completely individual and internal.
In Ganzfeld, a visitor walks into an empty room and is bathed in light. When you first step into the piece and approach the central point, the combination of the light and the decline is completely disorienting; it is intended to be this way. You feel as though you are walking through a thick colorful fog before your eyes can adjust. As the lights slowly change, so does your depth perception; you think you are walking towards the end of a tunnel, when in fact you are walking precariously towards a 2 meter drop.
Ganzfeld is actually a German word that describes the phenomenon of “perceptual deprivation” and this is what this work challenges you with. Once you are immersed, you cannot trust your eyes or your senses, but you are forced to grapple with it alone.
Alone, Together. Berlin, Germany. December 2018.