Basilio's Birthday!

James Turrell skyspace at the Hotel Castell in Zuoz

Today has been Basilio's birthday. This is one of my favourite days of the year and so I have been waiting excitedly for it to arrive. I started the day chatting blithely to my brother, who gave his wishes to Basilio even before he was allowed to get up from bed and arrive in the living room where I would prepare the breakfast and then celebrate Basilio for what he means and brings to me every day.

Today Basilio has accomplished several things. He has become a moma member, has gotten some work done, eaten a browny for breakfast, chatted with Jean-Baptiste, taken notice of his moma art classes, strolled through Central Park, marvelled at the Guggenheim Museum architecture, happily received many whatsapp messages, and finally savoured a magnificent Turrell installation (and exhibition) in the Guggenheim rotunda. It so happens that last time we saw a Turrell skyspace was just a couple of weeks ago in the remote Zuoz situated in the Oberengadin. There we found Turrell's skyspace aloof from any important traces of civilisation in the midst of a hayfield high on the hillside. What a contrast to the spectacular installations at the Upper East Side that we visited today. Here and there Turrell's art is highly ephermeral, although in different ways. While the skyspace in Zuoz reminded us of a chapel and seemed to be most about contemplation, the playful and sophisticated Aten Reign in the Guggenheim inner hall was just as much about perception, gathering, and perhaps deception as it was about introspection.

Turrell's art is about light in the first place. Via changing light patterns or intense spot-like illuminations light shold become visible by itself. We never see anything but light, yet we hardly ever acknowledge that what we see are not objects, events, structures, but light in the first place. Turrell tries to change this misunderstanding of light by displaying it as his sole object of art. He paints with light, so to speak, and thereby explores fascinating technical possibilities.

Being a photographer and a geometrician (in Plato's sense), Basilio shares much of his fascinations with James Turrell. It wasn't surprising therefore that the Turrell installations did not only connect to his artistic sense, but also to his technical interest in light. This became most visible when he started mentioning the technical difficulties in recreating virtually some of the light patterns that Turrell creates with the use of simple projectors.

Back home we have started preparing the evening of this fabulous day, which we will share with our favourite New Yorkians Virginia and Fred. Happy Birthday, Basilio!