Minimalism Show – Olafur Eliasson and His Room For One Colour

O L A F U R   E L I A S S O N

Wait – Is that LPD? 

Olafur Eliasson isn’t an unfamiliar name to me. I have previously been accustomed to his works, even though to be honest I don’t remember which work exactly was first. But one that stood out is The Weather Project, which was done way back in 2003.

Created for the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern, London, this site-specific installation employed a semi-circular screen, a ceiling of mirrors, and artificial mist to create the illusion of a sun. Aluminium frames lined with mirror foil were suspended from the ceiling to create a giant mirror that visually doubled the volume of the hall – along with the semi-circular screen mounted on the far wall, its long edge abutting the mirror ceiling. Backlit by approximately 200 mono-frequency lights, the semi-circle and its reflection created the image of a massive, indoor sunset seen through the artificial mist emitted into the room. By walking to the far end of the hall, visitors could see how the sun was constructed, and the reverse of the mirror structure was visible from the top floor of the museum.

I loved this work, how simple yet so impactful it was. I loved how it completely transformed the space, I loved the grandness of it, the size of it. The atmosphere it created, and the environment it created. The way it influenced how people interacted with it, with each other.

People lied down on the floor, watching themselves in the mirror above them. It was interesting how at some parts the audience created something for themselves as seen above. An interaction that would not have existed if it weren’t for this installation.

Olafur Eliasson is well known for his large scale sculptures and installations. He often includes elemental materials such as light, water, and air temperature to engage with the viewer’s perception of space.

In this video, Eliasson talks about the formation of an idea, and likens the space ideas comes from to a treasure room. He talks about how sometimes words can amplify an idea, but sometimes, letting intuition flow in, the idea can be delivered more productively.

As someone who overthinks and is indecisive, I tend to put a lot of words into my work, feeling the need to justify everything so that everyone can understand me and my work, and it is difficult for me to be concise.

The video opened up my thoughts about how ideas can be delivered. The body reacts instinctively, and through understanding it and its host – humans, we can understand the essence of interaction better.

M I N I M A L I S M   S H O W

The Minimalism Show was very enjoyable. There were so many works, and it was intriguing to see so many ways a minimalistic approach was interpreted, by the artists, and then the audience. It was hard to choose a favorite, since I was really captivated by many. However, Eliasson’s Room For One Colour was one that solicited an immediate memorable response from me.

I think it’s fun to explore the museum with no expectations of what works I would be discovering. The element of surprise changes the experience completely.

Upon entering the space, you immediately notice that your sense of vision has been altered, in a very surreal, but familiar way – as if a filter has been put across your eyes.

We are familiar with filters – something that alters the image you see through your camera, most widely used in your phones. This is a common, familiar image that you see through your phone camera. However, this experience was analogue. It was physical. I was suspended in disbelief as I looked down on my grey – yellow skin.

“WHAT IS GOING ON” I couldn’t help but state this out loud.

The intense yellow lights altered our vision this way, and this was a new concept to me, that this could be done. The novelty, the non expectation, and having friends inside as visual subjects enhanced my experience of the space.

I realised that the body is engaged in a way that is the most instinctive, and it is really simple, yet very impactful, and I feel that Eliasson is successful in delivering that idea to his audience.

INT 1 – Interactive Art Inspiration Week 6

FLOATING FLOWER GARDEN BY TEAMLAB

This is beautiful! I love how this installation allows for the audience to be completely surrounded by flowers. I think that this creates a unique experience, having the flowers rise to make way for people.

“When a viewer approaches this flower-filled space, the flowers near the viewer rise upward all at once, creating a hemispherical space with the viewer at its center. Although the whole space is filled with flowers, a hemispherical space is constantly being created with the viewer at its center and the viewer is free to move around wherever they want. If viewers get close to one another, the domes link up to form one single space. In this interactive floating flower garden viewers are immersed in flowers and become completely one with the garden itself.”

The flowers are alive and I think this makes a difference because the whole space then becomes a living garden. A new way of experiencing a garden is presented and people can appreciate the beauty of the flowers in a dream-like setting. 

 

NEW MOON BY CAITLIN R.C. BROWN X WAYNE GARRETT

 

New Moon simulates the different phases of the moon by using repurposed lightbulbs and a turnstile. The use of light is very pretty and the imagery of the moon is used aptly. I originally thought that the whole structure is like a huge merry-go-round and the whole frame rotates while the moon stays in place (which would have been awesome), but this is great nonetheless and makes a great instalment both indoors and outdoors. 

Click here for Week 7’s post!

 

INT 1 – Interactive Art Inspiration Week 4

AQUATIC COLORS BY TAKAHIRO MATSUO X AKIHISA HIRATA

I have a love-hate relationship with the sea. I love the waves, the colour of it, its mystical qualities, the animals that live in it. At the same time, I am also super scared by the sea. Especially more so if it’s deep. A traumatic near-drowning experience leaves me anxious if I ever get stuck in a situation where I’m floating in water without being able to see or feel the sea floor. However, still, I find myself in awe of the greatness and power of the ocean.

As someone who is equally scared and amazed by the deep sea, I would really love to be able to see this interactive installation in person. I mean, to be able to go diving into the deep sea without any of its dangers? Yes, please! (Deep sea diving is still in my bucketlist though)

The combination of the luminous jellyfish, the entrancing structures that mimic waves, the darkness of the space, make for an ethereal experience, I feel, from looking at pictures. As the audience walks closer or further to or from the structures, the number of jellyfish appearing varies accordingly. This level of interaction, coupled with the different distances of people and structure at any point of time, creates a beautiful underwater world with organically moving jellyfish. Beautiful work!

 

TIGER & TURTLE – MAGIC MOUNTAIN BY HEIKE MUTTER X ULRICH GENTH

I have no idea what the name of the artwork has to do with the structure at all, but I must say that I am quite impressed by the idea of a walkable rollercoaster. First of all, I love roller coasters. Now that I think about it, I’ve only ever been on one and it wasn’t as exciting as I had expected it to be, but I still have high hopes for the roller coasters I’ve yet to ride on. 

From afar, the public would see it as a roller coaster. However, after closer inspection, disappointment awaits – it’s not a roller coaster, it’s just a funny-looking winding set of stairs! They will then be pleasantly surprised by the novelty of the structure. If only the loop could be walked through by normal humans. That would be amazing.

The simple physical interaction with the structure I feel is a kind of interaction that we take for granted. With advancing technology, we are absorbed in wanting to interact with technology, virtual reality, but I feel that sometimes analog ways of interaction can bring about heartwarming results as we are allowed to use our most natural senses to engage the artwork, and maybe with others too, at that. 

Click here for Week 5’s post!

INT1 – Interactive Art Inspiration Week 3

INTERACTIVE STARRY NIGHT BY PETROS VRELLIS

I find it interesting how Vrellis was able to look at the strokes of Van Gogh’s painting and recognise that their individuality could be utilised to allow for customisation. Using the same concept of flow, the audience is able to interact with the artwork and make changes that does not really take away the essence of the painting. This I feel was really cool that such a potential was realised. 

It is also interesting that technology has allowed us to interact with traditional medium in new ways, and pushes me to think of how I can incorporate technology into interactions with humans.

 

FIREWALL BY AARON SHERWOOD

I found this work very visually pleasing and I also love the tactile quality of the interaction, how the cloth stretches in a way that I think must feel very soft to the hands. I love how the lines light up in the dark like bursts of ember, perfectly fitting its name, “Firewall”.

I really like how the lines are originally straight and monotonous, and then scatter to the touch, becoming a tangled mess of haphazard lines, like we are disturbing the status quo, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. 

Click here for Week 4’s post!

 

INT 1 – Interactive Art Inspiration Week 2

LASER FOREST BY MARSHMALLOW LASER FEAST

I like hiking and being amongst trees, breathing in the cool, fresh air. Having grown up in the city, I came to cherish every vacation my family spent away in a villa in the mountains. Going for camps where we hiked upstream to reach waterfalls was also one of my favourite things to do.

 

Laser Forest presents another image of the forest, turning it into a fun wonderland with movable lasers and musical notes playing with the trigger of the touch sensors. The space evolves into a playscape with dancing lights and original music orchestrated by the audience themselves. A very fun concept, I feel, as the inner child is brought out as we are compelled to play around with the trees.

 

HALF THE AIR IN A GIVEN SPACE BY MARTIN CREED

Even now I still feel like a child. I secretly yearn to play in those fun playhouses for children with the slides and obstacles and ball pits, and while I am not shy in admitting this, what are the chances that I would have the luxury of time to enjoy it?

I can’t help but be excited looking at Martin Creed’s installation, which was first created back in 1998 with white balloons and has been done many times over. It’s almost like a maze, or if you shrunk and fell into a tub of rice pops. Intended to evoke a sense of celebration and remembrance of childhood, I’d say that Creed is successful in using very simple materials to create a fun but meaningful piece, that lets adults tap into their inner child again.

Click here for Week 3’s post!

INT1 – Interactive Art Inspiration Week 1

In exhibitions, I usually find myself drawn towards interactive or large-scale works. There is something about them that compels me to take a closer look. I can’t quite explain it, it’s not that I would disregard other kinds of artwork, it’s just I love the scale of it.

Hopefully through these blogs, I can find interactive works that inspire me and help me figure out how to deliver my own meaning through my art.

 

LIQUID SHARD BY POETIC KINETICS

This week’s inspiration first caught my eye through a Facebook post. The glittery structure hovering over a city looks straight out of a fairytale. I love how organically it sways in the wind, how the sun catches on the undulating wave.

I feel that the size is not only for show. It perfectly describes mother nature’s presence in our lives. Amidst the concrete buildings, its presence is glorious, reminding us that it is still very much a crucial part of our world, even though we haven’t been so good to earth. It is as if saying, “I am here!”

Liquid Shard allows passersby and people up in the buildings alike to pause awhile and observe it, marvel in its slowly undulating movements. This reminds me of often overlooked natural phenomenas, like the clouds slowly passing by, and trees rustling in the wind. Overall, it is a very cool piece of work.

 

NIMBUS BY POETIC KINETICS

I remember when I was young I would look up the sky and stare at the clouds slowly swirling. I imagined collecting a jar of cloud on my first flight, I dreamt of flying through them, sleeping on them. 

And when they spewed lightning and roared thunders, I could feel the sky’s anger. It rumbled through my nerves, through the tips of my hair.

Nimbus brings me back to stormy skies. The orchestral music that is triggered by people’s movements amplifies the magnificence of the clouds, with lighting that seems unreal, but is actually physically possible in real life. Paired together, Nimbus makes a surreal experience out of something as mundane as descending the escalator.

Click here for the Week 2’s post!