Step into the captivating world of Olafur Eliasson's art, where the boundaries between the outside and inside blur. In the heart of the gallery, a colossal sun dominates, pulsating with vibrant lights that bring its surface to life. Another gallery showcases a desolate rocky landscape, complete with a riverbed and a narrow stream meandering down a gentle slope, inviting visitors to explore and dip their toes in. But the artist's genius doesn't stop there.
In the exhibition, Eliasson's diverse creations, including installations, photography, and sculpture, are seamlessly woven together. The curator, Geraldine Kirrihi Barlow, has masterfully crafted an experience that delves into the artist's preoccupation with spectatorship, perception, the environment, and climate change. The Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) proudly showcases two beloved installations, Riverbed (2014) and The Cubic Structural Evolution Project (2004), as part of their permanent collection, demonstrating their long-term commitment to Eliasson's work.
A new installation, aptly titled Presence, takes center stage. Using mirrors, Eliasson creates an illusion of depth and space, enhancing the already impressive ceiling heights. The 'sun' is just a segment, with mirrors crafting the illusion of a sphere. Visitors are bathed in a yellow monofrequency light, where other color frequencies are invisibilized, adding to the immersive experience.
Eliasson's work is deeply rooted in art history, drawing connections to 20th-century movements like Light and Space and Minimalism. His installations engage the viewer as a co-producer, blurring the lines between the natural and artificial. For instance, Ice Watch (2014) and The Glacier Melt Series (1998/2019) highlight the impact of climate change, with the former displaying floating icebergs and the latter revealing the retreat of glaciers over 20 years.
Eliasson's use of mirrors and lenses echoes the history of optical devices, photography, and cinema. Your Timekeeping Window (2022) features 24 glass spheres embedded in the gallery wall, projecting live activity outside, with humans upside down. This work nods to the camera obscura, a natural phenomenon where light creates an inverted image on a wall. The artist's fascination with mirrors and the tension between natural and artificial is further explored in Pluriverse Assembly (2021), where moving shapes and shadows are projected onto a luminous screen, revealing the installation's mechanics.
Eliasson's installations often intertwine sound and light. Your Truths (2025) employs fans to gently blow plastic sheets, creating a soothing soundscape akin to ocean waves. The work's ambient soundscape enhances the overall experience, inviting visitors to engage with the art on multiple sensory levels.
Olafur Eliasson's Presence exhibition at QAGOMA in Brisbane is a must-see until July 12, offering a unique and immersive journey into the artist's captivating world.
