Tucked into the hillside at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, framed by subtropical planting and sweeping views of St Michael’s Mount, sits one of the UK’s most quietly extraordinary art experiences: a Skyspace by world-renowned artist James Turrell.
But what is a Skyspace? In simplest terms, a Skyspace is a purpose-built chamber with a large opening in the ceiling, a window to the sky. Visitors are invited to sit within the space and look upward, where the ever-changing sky becomes a living canvas. But this is no ordinary view. As the light shifts, the architectural framing alters how we perceive colour, depth, and distance. The result is a heightened awareness of seeing itself.
James Turrell, a pioneer of the Light and Space movement, has spent over five decades exploring how light can be used not just to illuminate but to shape perception. His Skyspaces, found in locations from Japan to Norway, and in this case, Cornwall, are contemplative spaces where time seems to pause and the boundaries between inside and outside dissolve.
At Tremenheere, the Skyspace is a solid, stone-lined chamber that opens to the sky above. Sitting inside, you feel cocooned, still, and grounded. But above, the sky is in motion; clouds drift, colours change, and light fades. This simple act of looking becomes quietly profound. Many visitors describe a sense of calm, awe, or even spiritual reflection.
Turrell’s work doesn’t provide answers or impose meaning. Instead, it gives us space, literal and mental, to slow down, look again, and experience the world differently.
Looking Deeper: Aqua Oscura
Just across the gardens lies Aqua Oscura, another immersive work by Turrell. Housed in a former Victorian water tank buried in the hillside, this camera obscura offers a different kind of light experience. Instead of looking up at the open sky, you step into near-total darkness. After a moment, a faint image of the world outside, trees, sky, movement, appears via a small aperture.
Here, light is revealed as something fragile, elusive, and indirect. Where the Skyspace is expansive, Aqua Oscura is intimate and ghostly, a study in contrast that deepens the overall experience of Turrell’s vision at Tremenheere.
Plan Your Visit
James Turrell’s works are permanent installations at Tremenheere, the only garden in the UK to feature two of his pieces. The Skyspace is open daily from 10.30am to 5.30pm, and Aqua Oscura is currently open every Saturday afternoon.
Whether you’re an art lover, a curious traveller, or simply seeking a moment of peace, Turrell’s Skyspace offers a unique opportunity to experience light, landscape, and time in a completely new way.
Come sit. Look up. And see what happens.