Light Installation on cemetery

Yesterday i visited the Dorotheenstädtische Friedhof in the Chausseestraße¹. Besides the graves of famous people like Bertolt Brecht, Borsig, Hegel or Christa Wolf, the cemetery features an interesting chapel. Built between 1927 and 1928, the chapel was destroyed during the Second World War and later reconstructed in the GDR, based on the testimonies of contemporary witnesses. In 2013, the chapel was renovated, and the opportunity was taken to contact the light artist James Turrell - one of the key figures of the Light and Space Movement.² Together with the Berlin-based architecture bureau Nedelykov Moreira,³ the interior was redesigned to support Turrell’s site-specific vision.

Normally, the chapel is only used for memorial services, but you can visit it on a small guided tour about 30 minutes before dusk. The first part of the tour is a short introduction to the cemetery, the chapel, James Turrell, and the light installation. The second part is simply about experiencing the art itself.

Unfortunately, taking pictures inside the chapel is not allowed. I went in almost blindly, not knowing what to expect, but I think my expectations were a bit too high. You really have to be in a certain mood for this; the light installation is meant to work almost like a sensory deprivation tank, inviting you to sit in silent contemplation and let the colors wash over you.⁴ At first, I thought it was a bit pretentious and anticipated more, but as my mind slowly shifted into a meditative state, it started to work. The guide explained that the milk glass appears to shift colors over time, which is actually due to the colorful afterimages created by the human eye. The effect wasn’t that strong for me at first, but later on, there were some interesting moments. The altar and apse gradually changed colors, and it was fascinating to see certain hues that seemed to appear only from specific angles.

It’s an interesting installation, but I think it really resonates when you’re in the mood for a meditative experience.