A snow-covered volcanic plain dotted with dark, irregular rocks, lit by warm yellow light, with low ridges and distant slopes under a cloudy sky.

About the Exhibition

We each perceive the world differently, even when standing side by side. One of us might see a rainbow, where another sees a fine mist catching the light. One person might see a river to cross, where another perceives a landscape of rounded rocks and pebbles. We might see the sun, while a friend beside us focuses on a star.

‘Olafur Eliasson: Presence’ begins with the radiant light, sweeping rivers and snow-covered mountains of the artist’s ancestral home, Iceland, then travels to the stars and planets beyond. Eliasson is known for his broad-ranging artistic practice which encourages us to consider our rapidly changing climate, look to the future and solve problems creatively. In ‘Presence’ he invites us to explore light, land and life – to reflect on how we connect to one another, as well as to the landscape of our inner self.

Eliasson reminds us that our understanding of who we are, and the world around us, is based not only upon where we stand and where we are from culturally – but the fundamental process of perception itself. He encourages us to move between perspectives; to watch each other with care and tenderness as we do so. Eliasson invites us to playfully shift the way we make sense of what we experience.

This exhibition rewards curiosity. Slow down, take your time. As you explore the artworks, ask: ‘What am I seeing?’ What we first see, or sense, will change. ‘Presence’ brings iconic early artworks, such as Beauty 1993, together with two further much-loved installations from the QAGOMA Collection, The cubic structural evolution project 2004 and Riverbed 2014. Three new works have been made especially for Brisbane, including the exhibition’s title work, which brings a luminous sun into the gallery. Nearby, two major new installations employ polarising filters to modify how we perceive light and colour. As we explore, what was black becomes white, and rainbow hues emerge unexpectedly, enabling us to shift between apparent ‘truths’ as we navigate the exhibition. Polarisation is not only a social phenomenon, but also optical, a matter of perception and perspective, something for us to play with and change – together.

Acknowledgments

The digital touchscreens and interactive mobile companion for 'Olafur Eliasson: Presence' were developed by QAGOMA, with contributions from Studio Olafur Eliasson.

Curator
Geraldine Kirrihi Barlow (Head of International Art) with quotes from Olafur Eliasson.

Digital Production
Nicholas O’Donnell (Head of Digital), Aidan Robertson, Clinton Wong, Douglas Larkin, Thomas Renn, Morgan McGuire, Shane Appleby and Zenobia Frost.

Additional Content
Sense Trail: Nicholas O’Donnell
Audio Description: Nicholas O’Donnell, Terry Deen (Head of Learning), Laura Walker and Mark Gomes.
Image alt text: Nicholas O’Donnell and Nabil Sabio Azadi.

Audio
Narration: Ian Bolt
Music: Ack Kinmonth
Sound Recording: Peter Gardener