The exceptional permanent outdoor installation MAKlite by the world-famous American artist James Turrell fills the MAK with an inner light which simultaneously illuminates the historistic façade of the building at Stubenring.
In close cooperation with the artist, the latest LED technology was applied to the lighting technology, developed by the Florentine artificial lighting specialist Targetti. Using the current technical possibilities, Turrell expanded the original color range to a multifaceted luminous play of colors. The reprogramming now comprises ten instead of the original four colors and can be seen in the evenings from sunset till midnight and in the mornings from 5 a.m. till sunrise.
As part of the VIENNA ART WEEK, on the evening of 21 November 2018 MAKlite was presented in this refined version with cutting edge technology for the first time.
Turrell’s installation illuminates the MAK’s window apertures uniformly with intense light. At the same time, starting from the central risalit, it pulsates—according to a color scheme precisely determined by Turrell—around the entire wing, permeating the static unity of the massive brick façade.
As is characteristic of James Turrell’s works, the MAK installation creates an experience that dissolves the boundaries between reality and virtuality. Without materially altering the listed façade, like a form of contemporary iconography, Turrell’s design articulates both the museum’s architectural history and its substantive purpose as an institution for art.
