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Why did the artist James Turrell ask visitors NOT to photograph his installation at the Guggenheim?

User DeanOC
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Final answer:

James Turrell requested visitors not to photograph his work at the Guggenheim to ensure they engage with the artwork directly and as intended, experiencing perception, light, and space in a personal and intimate way.

Step-by-step explanation:

The artist James Turrell likely requested visitors not to photograph his installation at the Guggenheim to ensure that viewers experience the artwork personally and intimately, as he intended. Turrell's works are often about perception and the experience of light and space, qualities that can be diminished or misrepresented through a photograph. Similar to the intentions of other artists like Anya Gallaccio, who designed an installation to be a grandiose yet intimate space, or like Robert Smithson, who created works deeply intertwined with their documentation, emphasizing the physical experience over photographic representation, Turrell aims for visitors to engage directly with his art. These artists share a common desire for their audience to encounter the artwork in a manner that engages directly with the senses, an experience that single still images may fail to capture fully.

User Roomaroo
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