Anish Kapoor
Ode to Peter

Engelsburg – Castel Sant’Angelo

2003
Existing artwork from the Zumtobel Collection

Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor is recognised as one of the most important contemporary artists in the world. An innovative sculptor, he is best known for his unexpected use of terrain materials such as limestone, granite, earth, concrete and coloured pigments, as well as his ability to create captivating environments that inspire a meditative and poetic experience.

Kapoor creates largely monochromatic and deceptively simple works that challenge notions of rationality and perception through the interplay of curved forms, reflective surfaces and size.
The installation in Neustift is a field of experimentation for perception and for the processual character of seeing. It demonstrates the dynamic relationship between light and vision and visualises how the human eye orients itself to the light situation. At the centre of the installation is a black picture surface that shows no light reflection. It is embedded in a luminous surface that continuously changes colour, constantly altering the colour impression of its surroundings. Unaffected by the dynamics, the black surface appears static and gives the human eye the impression of emptiness and depth.