By Clare Lilley and Caroline Bugler, with contributions from David Barrie, Andrew Graham-Dixon and Peter Murray.
American artist James Turrell first contemplated converting the 18th century deer shelter at YSP into a Skyspace when he stayed at the Park in 1993. However the project was not realised until 2006 when The Art Fund, the UK's leading art charity, commissioned a permanent Skyspace by Turrell at YSP. This is the first contemporary commission for The Art Fund and its most significant gift to the nation since The Burghers of Calais by Rodin in 1911. The Deer Shelter Skyspace consists of a large square chamber with an aperture cut into the roof. Through this aperture the visitor is offered a heightened vision of the sky, seemingly transformed into a trompe l'oeil painting. Released to celebrate the launch of Deer Shelter Skyspace on 27th April 2006, this publication offers superb black and white images of the work that are testament to Turrell's powerful sense of landscape and location.
Turrell is an artist of international acclaim, renowned as a 'sculptor of light'. For over 40 years he has used light and space to create art installations which extend and enhance perception - from indoor pieces which baffle the senses, creating an illusion of infinite diffused light, to outdoor Skyspaces.