At a glance
Step into a horizonless void of shifting light where depth disappears and the physical boundaries of the room seem to dissolve into pure, saturated color.
Meet the artist
Why go
Turrell’s Ganzfeld installations are rare, large-scale sensory experiences. This permanent work at Copenhagen Contemporary offers a disorienting encounter with light that challenges how your brain processes physical space and distance.
You'll see
Large-scale light installation · Shifting color sequences · Horizonless Ganzfeld environment · Architectural light intervention
Pace of visit
The installation involves a short, timed entry into a controlled light environment that requires slow, steady movement.
Don't miss
The transition between colors, where the intense saturation can trigger brief visual hallucinations or a total loss of depth perception.
Artlovers Tip
Stand still for a few minutes near the center of the room to let your eyes adjust; the most disorienting and effective moments occur when the light transitions slowly between contrasting hues.
Inside the exhibition
Aftershock is a permanent light installation by American artist James Turrell, located at Copenhagen Contemporary in the Refshaleøen district of Copenhagen, Denmark. As part of Turrell's Ganzfeld series, the work creates an immersive environment where light, color, and architecture merge to eliminate the viewer's sense of distance and surface.
The installation occupies a specially constructed space within the former industrial warehouse. Visitors ascend a staircase into a room designed with curved corners and a seamless floor, flooded with alternating sequences of intense neon light. The absence of shadows and visible edges creates a total field effect, effectively blinding the eyes to traditional spatial cues and architectural markers.
This work represents Turrell's lifelong investigation into the phenomenology of light. By stripping away visual objects, Aftershock forces a shift in attention from the thing seen to the act of seeing itself. It is one of the few places in Northern Europe where visitors can experience this specific type of sensory deprivation and chromatic intensity in a permanent setting.
Worth travelling for?
A vital stop for visitors interested in minimalism and perception, offering a brief but profound sensory shift within Copenhagen’s most expansive industrial art space.
Experience as an Artlover
Entry to the installation is included with general museum admission, but access is managed in small groups. Visitors should check the daily schedule upon arrival at the front desk, as there may be a wait during peak hours.
Aftershock
Artlovers relevance
Plan your visit
Copenhagen Contemporary
Copenhagen, Denmark
