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In Aarhus, Denmark, a striking new architectural feature has emerged beside the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum: a gently rising, circular, grass-covered mound. This innovative structure is distinguished by a central dark oculus, ingeniously turning the vast Danish sky into an integral part of the museum's art collection. Contained within this unique formation is 'As Seen Below – The Dome,' a monumental Skyspace by the renowned artist James Turrell. This permanent light installation, which first opened its doors in January 2026, was thoughtfully timed to precede the museum's full reopening for the summer solstice in June 2026. It promises an extraordinary experience, guiding visitors into the depths beneath the museum's foundations before subtly reorienting their gaze toward the celestial expanse above.

This particular Skyspace marks a significant milestone as Turrell's 100th such creation and stands as his most expansive installation within a museum environment. Towering sixteen meters (52 feet) high and stretching forty meters (130 feet) in diameter, the domed space introduces a novel subterranean realm to ARoS, dedicated to exploring light, human perception, and the dynamic interplay of weather. It further enriches a museum campus already celebrated for its large-scale installations, including Olafur Eliasson's 'Your Rainbow Panorama,' which gracefully arches above the museum's rooftop. Photographer Danica O. Kus had the exclusive opportunity to capture the installation's profound and ethereal ambiance before its public debut, documenting its immersive qualities.

The journey into James Turrell's Skyspace at ARoS commences with an underground passage, leading guests away from the urban landscape and into the serene circular chamber. This deliberate descent is fundamental to the artwork's conceptual framework. Turrell describes 'As Seen Below' as a conscious odyssey of entering the earth to subsequently emerge into the heavens, with this very movement establishing the installation's intrinsic physical rhythm even before the subtle shifts in light begin to unfold. Inside the dome, a vast circular opening perfectly frames the sky, offering an unobstructed view. The interior, sparse in visual distractions, compels the eye to focus keenly on the nuances of color, scale, and the ever-changing boundary between the architectural form and the atmospheric canvas. Turrell succinctly captures the essence of his work, noting, 'The architecture brings the sky close, so you realize that the very act of seeing is the artwork itself,' underscoring the viewer's active role in experiencing the piece.

The installation operates across various modes, each designed to manipulate perception. In 'Open Sky' mode, the oculus remains uncovered during museum hours, presenting the sky as a continuously evolving field of color. Conversely, in 'Colour Shift' mode, the aperture closes, transforming the chamber into an entirely enclosed environment. Here, light cascades across the walls, creating an illusion that dissolves the dome's physical boundaries. During the 'Twilight' sessions, synchronized with sunrise and sunset, artificial hues blend with the natural ambient light, giving the impression that the sky itself is responding to the changing colors. Turrell's extensive artistic career has consistently explored the delicate, often fluid boundary between objective reality and subjective perception. With a background deeply rooted in art and the psychology of perception, and a long association with the Light and Space movement, Turrell has dedicated over five decades to treating light as a medium to inhabit, to feel, and to critically examine. His philosophy, 'I work with light to shape how we perceive,' finds a particularly poignant and direct expression within the Aarhus dome, inviting a profound reconsideration of how we engage with our surroundings.

This opening culminates a significant expansion of ARoS, a collaborative endeavor with Schmidt Hammer Lassen and the Municipality of Aarhus. Beyond the Skyspace, the project encompasses The Salling Gallery, an underground exhibition area for yearly contemporary art commissions that opened in 2025, and ARoS Art Square, a permanent outdoor venue for artistic presentations. Financial support was generously provided by the Salling Foundations, the New Carlsberg Foundation, Aarhus Municipality, ARoS, and an anonymous private donor. From an aerial perspective, the new installation manifests as a circular indentation within the museum grounds, situated harmoniously alongside ARoS's traditional red-brick edifice and the elevated, circular pathway of 'Your Rainbow Panorama.' This arrangement establishes a direct, yet non-repetitive, dialogue between the works. While Eliasson's walkway infuses the city skyline with color from above, Turrell's dome orchestrates a journey below ground, compelling visitors to look skyward from a secluded and contemplative space.

This innovative installation is a testament to the transformative power of art, inviting introspection and a renewed appreciation for the natural world. It beautifully illustrates how human creativity can deepen our connection to the environment, encouraging us to perceive the familiar with fresh eyes and an open mind. By seamlessly integrating the sky into a museum experience, Turrell challenges conventional boundaries between art, architecture, and nature, fostering a sense of wonder and contemplative engagement that elevates the spirit.