A Universal Encounter in Olafur Eliasson’s Art!

Olafur Eliasson’s exhibition at Istanbul Modern invites viewers to contemplate the broader, universal questions of existence.

Picture this: I’m standing on an ice floe. Despite the sun’s dazzling brightness overhead, the air feels like it’s slicing through my skin—sharp as a paper cut. Each breath feels thick, as if the air itself is solid, threatening to shatter my teeth with every inhale. The vast, silent whiteness is suddenly interrupted by a rhythmic sound. Plink, plink… My heart, numbed by the freezing cold, feels like it has no room to beat. But then, out of nowhere, it pounds wildly. Something’s not right! The sound grows faster and louder. PLINK, PLINK, PLINK

The ground beneath me crumbles. My thoughts drift to Paulo Coelho’s Veronika Decides to Die, a novel about a woman’s profound inner journey. Veronika realizes she has never felt true cold before and steps outside to embrace the experience. I recall her stepping out into the chill, wearing only a thin nightgown, and how, in that moment, she rediscovered her senses. I’m reminded of my own days wandering through Istanbul’s snowy streets, almost deserted because of the cold, soaking in the tranquility. Now, it barely even snows in Istanbul anymore…

I open my eyes, closed for just three seconds. I’m back in the exhibition hall at Istanbul Modern, standing before Olafur Eliasson’s piece, which feels like it’s pulling us into the dark void left by a melting ice floe. Is this truly art? To me, it felt like a slap in the face.

The climate crisis is at our doorstep, but we hesitate to open the door. We’re afraid to face it! Even if we try to ignore the persistent knocking, we’re confronted with the stark reality reflected in Eliasson’s mirror, standing in that exhibition hall where we sought art but found a deeper truth.

Olafur Eliasson, the Icelandic-Danish artist, transcends geography. He is truly a global artist. Speaking to us through the language of nature, Eliasson incorporates elements like light, water, and air into his creations. Nature is not just a theme in his art; it’s his collaborator. This partnership transforms the viewer from a passive onlooker into an active participant, engaging us in ways that blur the line between art and the natural world.

MELTING ICE FLOES: “ICE WATCH”

In 2014, Olafur Eliasson brought massive chunks of Greenlandic ice to the heart of Copenhagen. These giant ice blocks were a tangible, melting symbol of climate change. People could touch the ice, feel its coldness, and witness it slowly disappear. This wasn’t just an exhibition; it was a silent protest. The melting ice symbolized the melting of the world. Eliasson later brought Ice Watch to London and Paris, where thousands gathered to experience and photograph the spectacle, sparking conversations about the climate crisis. Through this project, Eliasson successfully placed climate change on the public agenda in a visceral and impactful way.

SUNRISE: “THE WEATHER PROJECT”

In 2003, Eliasson’s The Weather Project at London’s Tate Modern marked a watershed moment in contemporary art. Using the expansive Turbine Hall, he created the illusion of a sun—a massive semicircular light source—reflecting off ceiling mirrors to create a sense of endless space. Visitors stood in awe of this artificial sunrise, questioning their connection to nature. How far can an indoor, man-made sun emulate the real one? How authentic can human-made nature feel? This installation pushed people to reflect on the boundaries between the natural and the artificial.

LABYRINTH OF COLORS: “YOUR RAINBOW PANORAMA”

Installed in 2011 atop the ARoS Art Museum in Aarhus, Denmark, Your Rainbow Panorama offers a 150-meter-long circular walkway that immerses visitors in a vibrant world of color. Surrounded by glass walls, each step reveals the city below in the hues of the rainbow. With this work, Eliasson redefined the relationship between color, light, and space. By filtering the cityscape through a kaleidoscope of colors, he invited visitors to see their surroundings from an entirely new perspective.

A STRIKING ENCOUNTER AT ISTANBUL MODERN

And now, Eliasson’s mesmerizing universe has arrived in Istanbul! Olafur Eliasson: Your Unexpected Encounter is the artist’s first solo exhibition in Turkey, hosted by Istanbul Modern until February 9, 2025. Curated by Öykü Özsoy Sağnak, Nilay Dursun, and Ümit Mesci, this exhibition showcases around 40 works from Eliasson’s 30-year career. Focusing on themes of water, light, color, perception, movement, geometry, and the environment, the collection transforms the viewer’s experience of reality, encouraging them to engage with the world in unexpected ways.

SUNSET TO DAWN, BOSPHORUS

One of the exhibition’s most captivating pieces is “Günbatımından Şafağa, Boğaziçi” (From Dusk to Dawn, Bosphorus), created specifically for Istanbul. This work captures the shifting colors and light of the Bosphorus and brings them into the exhibition space. The currents of the water, the rising and setting sun, the city’s vibrant energy—it all converges here. I wonder what you’ll feel when you stand before it. For me, it evoked a deep sense of warmth and compassion.

KALEIDOSCOPIC LANDSCAPES: “SUNSET KALEIDOSCOPE”

Another stunning piece is Günbatımı Kaleydoskobu (Sunset Kaleidoscope). This artwork amplifies the motion and scenery of the Bosphorus with kaleidoscopic effects, offering a strikingly unique perspective. The waters, the ships gliding across them, the city’s silhouette—all merge into a mesmerizing dance of color and light. It’s not just a visual treat, but a journey of thought. Eliasson reminds us that while the world is complex, it’s also beautifully simple. Everything is interconnected, part of a greater whole.

YOUR UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

The Olafur Eliasson: Your Unexpected Encounter exhibition truly lived up to its name for me. The dark room where the sound of rushing water fills the air, illuminated by bursts of light that make the water appear frozen in time… The abstract shape created by the melting ice dripping onto the vast white canvas… I can’t quite put into words the impact that massive canvas had on me. But even now, the urge to bring it home and stand in front of it, staring at what seems like an empty surface for hours, hasn’t faded. Maybe, like me, you’ll feel compelled to return for a second look. Who knows, perhaps your own unexpected encounter will happen in the yellow room, where everyone else appears to fade into colorlessness.

The climate crisis is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. It’s not just a concern for politicians or scientists—it’s something we all face. But this reality often gets buried in numbers and dense reports. That’s where art steps in. Art has the power to spark change in ways that statistics can’t—it connects with our emotions. Olafur Eliasson’s work masterfully harnesses this power, reminding us of our responsibilities by showcasing both the beauty and fragility of our world.

Time flows, ice melts, colors blend. On display until February 9, 2025, this exhibition invites you to reflect on universal questions beyond the bustle of daily life.