Music inspired by art

Nonsemble performs in front of James Turrell’s architectural light installation, Night Life

Nonsemble performs in front of James Turrell’s architectural light installation, Night Life / View full image

Throughout history, artists, musicians and performers have inspired each other. Artistic exchange can open up new ways of thinking, be an influential source of inspiration, or provide a spark that simply moves you, without explanation.

Brisbane-based contemporary classical group Nonsemble composed three pieces for a series of pop-up performances at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), inspired by the work of artists Margaret Olley, Ben Quilty and James Turrell. James Turrell’s stunning architectural light installation, Night Life, is a permanent fixture of GOMA’s facade on show daily from sunset to midnight.

Music inspired by Margaret Olley

Music written by Chris Perren / Musicians: Flora Wong: Violin; Samuel Andrews: Violin; Julianna Kim: Viola; Briony Luttrell: Cello; Chris Perren, Ableton Push / During ‘Margaret Olley: A Generous Life’ Nonsemble brought the Gallery to life with a series of pop-up performances of their compositions.

Music inspired by Ben Quilty

Music written by Briony Luttrell / Musicians: Flora Wong: Violin; Samuel Andrews: Violin; Julianna Kim: Viola; Briony Luttrell: Cello; Chris Perren, Ableton Push / During ‘Quilty’, Nonsemble brought the Gallery to life with a series of pop-up performances of their compositions.

Music inspired by James Turrell

Music written by Chris Perren / Musicians: Flora Wong: Violin; Samuel Andrews: Violin; Julianna Kim: Viola; Briony Luttrell: Cello; Chris Perren, Ableton Push / Nonsemble performed in front of James Turrell’s stunning architectural light installation, Night Life, a permanent fixture of the Gallery of Modern Art’s facade.

Night Life

James Turrell, United States, b.1943 / Night Life 2018 / Commissioned 2017 to mark the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Gallery of Modern Art with support from the Queensland Government, Paul, Sue and Kate Taylor, the Neilson Foundation and the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation Appeal / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © James Turrell / Photograph: Natasha Harth

James Turrell, United States, b.1943 / Night Life 2018 / Commissioned 2017 to mark the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Gallery of Modern Art with support from the Queensland Government, Paul, Sue and Kate Taylor, the Neilson Foundation and the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation Appeal / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © James Turrell / Photograph: Natasha Harth / View full image

As the sky shifts to dusk in Brisbane, Night Life 2018 animates GOMA in a play of light from within. James Turrell (United States, b.1943) is one of the globe’s most celebrated artists, renowned for his work with light and space.

The permanent installation illuminates GOMA’s eastern and southern glass facades each night through shifts in tempo, hue and intensity of colour. This 88 minute light sequence is unique amongst the artists light works, Night Life is a flat canvas of colour, key to the work is 2,500 lights illuminating 200 milky Starphire glass panels 15 metres tall, that wrap around 85 meters of GOMA’s two main facades.

Featured image: Nonsemble perform in front of James Turrell’s architectural light installation, Night Life

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