The Rothko Chapel, located in Houston, Texas, presents a deceptively simple exterior. The ungarnished brick walls lack intrigue or grandeur, the doorway is simply a means of entrance rather than a spectacle, yet over 55,000 visitors are drawn to the location every year (YouTube). The sanctuary inside is just as plain, aside from fourteen imposing murals created by the chapel’s namesake, Mark Rothko. They adorn bare walls, constantly shifting appearance with the light cast from the chapel’s skylight (Dowell). They seem to be the only lively aspects of an otherwise static place. The Rothko Chapel is “a sacred space, open to all, every day, to inspire people to action through art and contemplation [and] to nurture reverence for the highest aspirations of humanity” (YouTube), and its architectural design and these everchanging, indefinite portals make spirituality and reflection accessible to all who visit.
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The octagonal building has its point of symmetry and focus at the center (Shine), emphasizing the importance of looking inward. The simplicity of the surroundings encourages pilgrims to look within themselves for spiritual inspiration and meaning, as lack of complex visual stimulation in the design spurs the mind to focus on things beyond the physical. Blank walls hold no lavish decoration or extravagance that could distract from visitors’ introspection. There are no titillating sculpture installations, grandiose painted ceilings or expensive marble columns as in other places of worship, such as Bernini’s Cornaro Chapel (Gardner’s), and other establishments that prosper from increased patronage. Bernini and Rothko’s chapels are both designed to enhance and supplement worship, but the latter does not strive to seduce people into attendance with spectacle. That is not the
The octagonal building has its point of symmetry and focus at the center (Shine), emphasizing the importance of looking inward. The simplicity of the surroundings encourages pilgrims to look within themselves for spiritual inspiration and meaning, as lack of complex visual stimulation in the design spurs the mind to focus on things beyond the physical. Blank walls hold no lavish decoration or extravagance that could distract from visitors’ introspection. There are no titillating sculpture installations, grandiose painted ceilings or expensive marble columns as in other places of worship, such as Bernini’s Cornaro Chapel (Gardner’s), and other establishments that prosper from increased patronage. Bernini and Rothko’s chapels are both designed to enhance and supplement worship, but the latter does not strive to seduce people into attendance with spectacle. That is not the