Artist Talk: Louis Pesce

The word contemplate (to gaze, reflect and consider) is based on templum (the Latin origin of temple), which means to mark out a sacred place for observation. Ancient augurs (a college of Roman priests) would consecrate a templum in a rectangular area of land and sky to observe the flight of birds and interpret auspicious omens.

Temple of Contemplation, Pesce’s 2019 installation at Cypress College, allows one person at a time inside the structure to make their own observations and interpretations, as Roman augurs did in antiquity.