Where: Tate Modern, London When: 11 July 2019 – 5 January 2020
An exhibition not to miss…. Olafur Eliasson returns to the Tate Modern with his show, In real life. The Danish-Icelandic artist presents an array of visual experiences including light, reflection, colours and water installations that span three decades of his career. Eliasson entices the audience with interactive installations from his overwhelmingly large Moss wall, to the fog tunnel Your blind passenger – delivering a truly unforgettable experience. While the artist successfully catches the eye of the viewer through light installations and reflective mirrors, he highlights critical topics facing society today, such as our global climate crisis. Undoubtedly compelling viewers through his beautiful aesthetic, Eliasson also leaves us with a heightened sense of awareness particularly regarding mankind’s concerning impact on the environment.
In real life takes one on a journey that reconceptualizes light, shadow, and water as well as the use of space. In one of the first rooms, the viewer is confronted with Eliasson’s Moss wall – a large wall completely covered in Reindeer moss, which is a shrub native to Scandinavia. When watered, the moss changes in colour and appearance while also filling the room with its natural scent.
Your blind passenger, a striking tunnel of light and fog invites visitors into an encompassed space that is brightly lit yet full of fog, creating a contradictory reality of luminosity and blurred vision. Eliasson creates a dramatic and mystical space forcing visitors to let their guard down and momentarily release any sense of control or direction.
Your spiral view confronts the viewer with a tunnel-like structure composed of multiple mirrors reflecting the viewer in a kaleidoscopic vision. Similarly, Your uncertain shadow is highly interactive as it requires movement from the viewer in order for the colourful shadows to be cast on the wall and come to life. Eliasson refers to the audience in the room as ‘the producers of content’, as he aims to ‘hand the authority of art to the visitor’ (Jordhan, 2019).
Eliasson’s deep-rooted passion for climate change and sustainability is evident throughout the exhibit, as he utilizes his art to initiate much-needed dialogue and to provide a platform for open discussion. At the end of the exhibition, visitors can find the Little Sun, a solar powered LED light that Eliasson created, to distribute to underprivileged communities that do not have functioning electricity.
Eliasson’s works are thematically aligned yet highly unique, creating a beautiful journey of sensuous experiences while underscoring the artist’s devotion to social issues. In real life is a multi-faceted exhibition, which encourages every viewer to be mindful of their impact on the environment and to challenge one’s perception of nature.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jordahn, Sebastian. “Olafur Eliasson's Tate Modern Retrospective Shows Reality in ‘Higher Granularity.’” Dezeen, Dezeen, 16 July 2019, www.dezeen.com/2019/07/12/olafur-eliasson-in-real-life-tate-modern- interview-video/.
