I wanted to deal with light directly rather than with paint.
James TurrellRead
One way to understand light in the ocean of air is by flying it. Life in the air is an extension of perceiving.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that experiencing life and perception from a different perspective can enhance our understanding.
James Turrell's quote emphasizes the importance of perspective in understanding the world around us. By using the metaphor of flying, he conveys that experiencing life from above, as if viewing things from the air, allows for a broader comprehension of life's complexities and nuances. The ocean of air symbolizes the vastness of perception, suggesting that by exploring new viewpoints, we can gain deeper insights into our existence and the nature of reality.
Themes
LightPerceptionPerspectiveLifeUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on the importance of perspective, this quote can highlight the benefits of seeing things from different angles.
More from James Turrell
All quotes →It is only when light is reduced that the pupil opens and feeling goes out of the eyes like touch.
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I feel that I want to use light as this wonderful and magic elixir that we drink as Vitamin D through the skin - and I mean, we are literally light-eaters - to then affect the way that we see.
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In many cases, if we knew what it would take, we might have thought twice about it, so it's often wonderful that we don't have hindsight.
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There are different stages when you fly. The first stage is the dollhouse effect, seeing everything on Earth like it's a model. Suddenly, all of your concerns seem very small.
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Space has a way of looking. It seems like it has a presence of vision. When you come into it, it is there, it’s been waiting for you.
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