Rediscovering Perception with Olafur Eliasson: "Your Curious Journey"

Stepping into Olafur Eliasson’s 'Your Curious Journey' at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore was like entering a new dimension where light, color, and perception intertwine. As I walked through the immersive installations, I felt a profound connection to the art, as if each piece was inviting me to see the world from a new perspective. This exhibition is a testament to Eliasson’s genius in transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary experiences.

The traveling exhibition "Olafur Eliasson: Your Curious Journey" is held from May 10 to September 22, 2024, at the Tanjong Distripark Singapore Art Museum (SAM) . This four-month-long exhibition marks the first major solo exhibition in Southeast Asia dedicated to the work of Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson. The artist is known for his sculptures and large-scale installations that use elemental materials like light, water, and air. The exhibition presents a broad range of artworks that employ diverse media to explore themes of embodiment, experience, perception, climate action, and more-than-human perspectives.

The Yellow Corridor (1997)

Upon entering the museum, I was greeted by the yellow lights along the corridor of the gallery entrance, part of the installation "Room for One Colour" (1997). The entire space is bathed in light from mono-frequency lamps that emit light around 589 nanometers in wavelength, in the yellow region of the visible spectrum. At first, you see only a saturated yellow light that makes all colors appear as shades of yellow, grey, and black. Through this installation, Eliasson expresses how our reality is conditioned by our perception, by making us see our surroundings in monochrome. It was intriguingly bizarre to see the world around us not in the usual colors. It made me wonder if we have become so accustomed to seeing things in color that we fail to appreciate the beauty of colors around us.

Your Uncertain Shadow (2010)

Among all the works in the exhibition, "Your Uncertain Shadow" was one of my favorites because it was interactive. The installation features halogen lamps with variously colored bulbs on the floor and a white projection screen. As I walked across the room, my moving shadow was projected in a combination of flickering colors. A row of small, bright spotlights in several colors lined up along one wall of an empty room. People who entered the room cast multiple shadows of varying color, darkness, and size against the blank opposite wall. It was fascinating to see such a simple light display create an immersive experience. I couldn’t help but dance along in the space, and seeing others happily playing with their shadows was heartwarming.

"To move is to open or close the fan of shadows, to experience the laws of projection and the delight of the silhouette simultaneously." – Lorraine Daston

Beauty (1993)

I walked into a very dark room, and from afar in the empty space, I could see a faint rainbow through the falling mist from above, like a waterfall. As I moved closer, the quietness enveloped me; all I could hear was the gentle sound of the mist and the surreal beauty of the rainbow. I felt as if I was transported into another realm.

In "Beauty," a fine sheet of mist, reminiscent of a light drizzle, is illuminated by a singular spotlight in a darkened space. When viewed at just the right angle, a rainbow appears—a simple and beautiful play of light. Eliasson shows us how basic elements—a spotlight, a mist of water, and our eyes—can create something magical.

The artwork shows how water splits light into a spectrum of colors, revealing the hidden beauty of nature. The rainbow has an ethereal, fleeting quality, highlighting the delicate relationship between light and atmosphere. Though the water is constantly flowing, the appearance of this apparition varies depending on our position relative to the artwork. As light is refracted and reflected on the water droplets differently, no two viewers see the same rainbow.

The subject of "Beauty" is thus both the light and the viewer, which begs the question:

Does the rainbow exist independently, or does it exist because we perceive it?

This reflexivity that "Beauty" facilitates—combined with the exposed apparatus of the work—heightens our awareness of the very act of perception and our experience of seeing.

Standing there, immersed in the tranquil atmosphere, I was acutely aware of the ephemeral nature of the rainbow. It felt as though Eliasson had captured a fleeting moment of natural wonder, allowing us to experience it in its purest form. This artwork not only showcased the beauty of natural phenomena but also invited us to reflect on our own role in perceiving and appreciating that beauty.

Symbiotic Seeing (2020)

When I first entered the room for "Symbiotic Seeing," I noticed the ceiling looked solid and flat. But as I took a closer look, I realized it was like a layer of liquid skin, with tiny ripples swirling and moving. It was mesmerizing. These effects come from colored laser lights mixing with fog that’s released periodically. This combination makes the ceiling look like it’s in between different states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas.

The way Eliasson uses these changing materials creates an environment that feels alive and organic. It makes you move quietly and thoughtfully, both on your own and with others. "Symbiotic Seeing" really makes you think about how things can change and interact in surprising ways.

What makes this piece even more special is that "Symbiotic Seeing" is one of two exclusive artworks only being shown in Singapore as part of this traveling exhibition.

Reflection and Conclusion

Olafur Eliasson’s "Your Curious Journey" was a truly transformative experience. Each installation invited me to look at the world differently, to see beauty in the ordinary, and to appreciate the delicate interplay between light, color, and perception. The exhibition's focus on themes such as perception, embodiment, and the natural environment resonated deeply with me, reminding me of the interconnectedness of all things.

Eliasson's work highlights the importance of being present and aware in our surroundings. It challenges us to consider how our perceptions shape our reality and how art can reveal the hidden beauty in the everyday. As I left the ArtScience Museum, I felt inspired and more attuned to the world around me.

If you have the chance to visit "Your Curious Journey," I highly recommend it. Eliasson’s installations are not just artworks; they are experiences that stay with you, encouraging you to see the world through new eyes.

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Have you ever attended an art exhibition that changed your perspective? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below. And don’t forget to mark your calendars for the next big event in the art world!