Have you ever seen the sunset installation, once suspended from the ceiling of Turbine Hall in the Tate Modern?
Ten years ago, four artificial waterfalls appeared near the port of New York. The magnificent temporary waterfalls quickly became one of the must-see tourist attractions in New York. They are one incredible example of the installation work of artist Olafur Eliasson. He is considered one of the masters of immersive and experiential installation, an expert in manipulating light, climate, and water. He uses technological equipment to recreate realistic elements of the natural world. The Weather Project (2003) is a great example of this, Eliasson used lights, shadows, and mirrors to capture the moment of sunset indoors, and his waterfall works (The New York City Waterfalls, 2008) are another example of his recreations of natural phenomena.
For Eliassion, art is a method for transforming thoughts into actions, and for this reason he has no limits with regard to where he exhibits his work, which span from galleries and museums to the public realm. He has devoted his work to promoting the importance of the planet by showcasing natural environments through his art.
Olafur Eliasson's latest project Reality Projector is now on display at the Marciano Art Foundation in Los Angeles. The artist used the archtiecture of the foundation's space to create an adventure in light, a dynamic work that plays with light and shadow. As visitors enter the hall, they encounter two round installations comprised of colored cellophane and suspended from the ceiling, casting colored light onto the walls and creating a geometric light sculpture.
Since the mid-1990s, Eliasson has had numerous major exhibitions and completed projects around the world at different renowned spaces including the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco, Tate Modern. In 2003, Eliasson represented Denmark at the 50th Venice Biennale. His works are in several public collections, including The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Centre for International Light Art Unna, and Deste Foundation among others.
Marciano Art Foundation was founded by Maurice and Paul Marciano; they are also the founders of GUESS. Marciano Art Foundation was created to showcase Marciano's expansive collection, as well as provide an experimental platform for artists. The building has also retained some parts of the original architecture as a Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, a bright and open space for artists to explore. The Marciano Art Foundation has been open to the public since last May, and anyone that wants to visit can book a free ticket online in advance.
In addition, Olafur Eliasson has over 12 pieces of works in Red Brick Art Museum in Beijing, his largest solo exhibition ever, including The unspeakable openness of things (2018), Glacial landscape (2018), Chronobiological sphere (2018), Tomorrow resonator and Yesterday resonator (2018), The blind pavilion (2003), and Two unthought thoughts (2015) among others.
Olafur Eliasson: Reality projector
Exhibition Date: From now on to August 26, 2018
Venue: The Marciano Art Foundation in Los Angeles
Olafur Eliasson: The unspeakable openness of things
Exhibition Date: From now on to August 12, 2018
Venue: Red Brick Art Museum in Beijing
Curator: Yan Shijie
Figure 1: Olafur Eliasson, The weather project, 2003, Tate Modern. Photo: Andrew Dunkley & Marcus Leith
Figure 2 top left: Olafur Eliasson, The round corner (0°, 18°, 36°, 54°, 72°, 90°), 2018. installation,Laminated coloured glass, stainless steel, aluminium. 234×90×90 cm. Photo: Red Brick Art Museum
Figure 2 top right: Olafur Eliasson, The New York City Waterfalls, 2008.Brooklyn Bridge, New York. Photo: Julienne Schaer / Courtesy Public Art Fund
Figure 2 bottom left: Olafur Eliasson, Tomorrow resonator and Yesterday resonator, 2018. installation,Prismatic glass ring, colour-effect filter glass (yellow, violet), LED lights, LED driver, stainless. Dimensions variable. Photo: Xing Yu, Red Brick Art Museum
Figure 2 bottom right: Olafur Eliasson. Photo: Red Brick Art Museum
