Olafur Eliasson

Description

Ever since he made his debut on the international scene in the early 1990s, the originality of Olafur Eliasson's visual language has been clear. Viewers play a major role in his art, and each work is made in relation to them. Drawing on a wealth of references ranging from nature to science, and using a wide variety of media, including photographs, installations, outdoor projects, videos, films, architecture and design collaborations, through to books and multiples, his artistic output is remarkable for its breadth and diversity. Eliasson redefines the role of the artist as a tireless researcher, prolific thinker and experimental operator, and one who is constantly striving to explore new fields and engage fully with current cultural debates. Born in Copenhagen in 1967, Eliasson is committed to pushing the boundaries of space using materials such as lights, mirrors and water in conjunction with architectural and landscape settings. The result is some of the most ambitious and immersive contemporary art in the world. Among his best-known work is The Weather Project, commissioned for the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern in 2003. Using a semicircle of hundreds of yellow lamps and enormous mirrors he created a dazzling sunset and a vast ceiling that reflected the audience and the surroundings. Marcella Beccaria brings together analyses of all his best-known work, along with over 100 full-colour illustrations and a complete biography. In keeping with the Modern Artists series, this book provides the reader with an affordable and rich introduction to one of the most ambitiously inventive artists working today.

Reviews

'Tate's excellent compact series on contemporary art' - Financial Times

Author description

Marcella Beccaria is curator at the Castello di Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art in Turin.