New art gallery for light art by James Turrell

The Ore Mountains are getting a new art gallery, which will feature a light installation by internationally acclaimed artist James Turrell. It is being built on the site of the former coal mine in Oelsnitz. Work on the multi-million euro project is already underway and a time capsule has now been placed at the foundations of the building.

The 81-year-old American Turrell has achieved worldwide fame as a "sculptor of light". "Light is what we normally only use to illuminate other things," he himself once said about his work. "I am interested in light that has a materiality of its own, that does not illuminate other things, but becomes illumination itself." His installations can be found in many countries around the world.

Investment of more than 6 million euros

Under the title "Beyond Horizons" in the future also in the Erzgebirge. The work is part of the "Purple Path", the art and sculpture trail that connects Chemnitz as European Capital of Culture 2025 with more than 30 locations in the surrounding area. The art trail is based on the narrative "Everything comes from the mountain". The works of art exhibited in the open air are based on minerals that were once mined in the region, such as copper, tin and cobalt, as well as the raw material wood. And they address the miners' longing for light at the end of a long shift underground.

Not only the location of the new art gallery is related to mining. It replaces a dilapidated hall that once served the mine as a tool shed. The historic steel structure, including the crane runway, will be restored and rebuilt. The entrance to the hall is reminiscent of the mouth of a tunnel. The design comes from the H2 office in Lichtenstein (Zwickau district). Architect Hendrik Heine put the total costs - not including the artwork itself - at around 6.4 million euros. This also includes the outdoor facilities and a connection to the neighboring "Kohlewelt" museum.

A walk-in light sculpture in a shadowless space

The building, which covers an area of 1,600 square meters, should be completed this year, said Heine. According to Alexander Ochs, curator of the "Purple Path", visitors can expect a three-dimensional, walk-in light sculpture in a shadowless room. As they enter, they will lose their sense of time and space thanks to the changing light colors.

The opening is reportedly planned for the last quarter of 2025 - as the conclusion and climax of the installation on the "Purple Path". However, the presentation is not tied to the Capital of Culture year, but will be on display in Oelsnitz for at least the next ten years.

Mayor Thomas Lein (SPD) spoke of a unique opportunity that will never be offered again. This would not only eliminate a large wasteland next to the "Kohlewelt" museum. It will also create an attraction with supra-regional significance that will draw visitors from all over Europe.