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GOMA set to glow with James Turrell light installation

Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) will soon realise one of its most ambitious projects yet – a James Turrell light installation that will transform the South Bank building.

Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said the major art commission – which is set to be delivered in April – will further enhance GOMA’s status as a world-class cultural destination, and will complete the original design intention for the building.

“This exciting work will see GOMA’s design fully realised, with the light installation by internationally celebrated artist James Turrell completing the original artistic vision and ambition for the building,” Ms Enoch said.

“The installation will completely transform the eastern and southern facades of GOMA after dark, with the shifting exterior colour palette reflecting the changing nature of our city.

“I am thrilled James Turrell will soon travel to Queensland to oversee this ambitious and much-anticipated artwork.

“The Palaszczuk Government is proud to support this exciting project, which will be an addition to Brisbane’s cityscape and is set to become one of Turrell’s ‘destination artworks’, attracting fans from all over the world.”

QAGOMA Director Chris Saines said the unique artwork would be a milestone in QAGOMA’s history.

“During the development of the gallery’s second building, lead architects Kerry Clare, Lindsay Clare and James Jones envisaged an artist-illuminated ‘white box’ on GOMA’s main pedestrian approaches,” Mr Saines said.

“Turrell’s architectural light installation realises the potential of the white box facade and completes a major aspect of the architects’ vision.

“James Turrell has an extraordinary international reputation and public following, having created destination artworks inside and on buildings, and within the landscape.

“His expansive body of work explores perception and the materiality of light, and his large-scale installations celebrate the optical and emotional effects of luminosity.”

In addition to the Palaszczuk Government’s contribution towards the development of this commission, QAGOMA has received an outstanding lead donation from Paul and Susan Taylor, along with generous contributions from The Neilson Foundation and donors to the 2017 QAGOMA Foundation Appeal.

This permanent addition to the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art will increase QAGOMA’s popularity further and help it build on 2017’s record-breaking attendance figure of more than 2.17 million visitors.