James Tapscott

Arc ZERO: Oculus  

On display November 5–14, 2021  

Melbourne, Australia  

Arc ZERO: Oculus is departure point, a threshold for the body, the mind, and the eye. It’s an immersive gateway with a fiery glow, made simply from light and water. The fusion of these elemental materials produces an otherworldly experience as the mist erupts from a ring encircling Soleri Bridge. As you pass through the cool air, the rhythmic on/off cycle—the breath—allows the mist to float away on the wind like an animated cloud and the site to relax, ready for the next eruption.   

Light and water are the cornerstones of life. This work reconnects us with this most simple way of being and seeing.   

Artist Biography  

James Tapscott is an Australian contemporary land artist and pioneer of experimental light. His work is primarily outdoors and site responsive, though it also encompasses sculpture and photography. His collaborative approach to working with a particular site creates a carefully constructed sensory experience for the viewer. The experience is designed to be subliminal and non-objective and to create a heightened understanding of natural phenomena and our ability to transcend traditional modes of perception. 

Having worked with the medium of light—and as a land artist for more than a decade—Tapscott has exhibited major projects throughout Australia and internationally, mostly throughout Asia. He has also recently completed high-profile permanent public commissions in Perth, Australia, and Shenzhen, China, and he is currently producing new works for installation in Perth and Chengdu, China. Tapscott recently completed a research-based residency in the United States, hosted by the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art in Colorado. Recent exhibitions include the Changwon Sculpture Biennale in Korea; the Islamic Art Festival in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; and the opening of the new Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense, Denmark.

Artwork Rigging Design and Installation Provided By

Artwork Sponsored By

 

 

Artwork structural engineering performed by Sirius Structures.