Icelandic-Danish painter Olafur Eliasson’s first exhibition in Turkey offers a deep dive into the core themes that have defined his 30-year career, curated by Öykü Özsoy Sağnak, Nilay Dursun, and Ümit Mesci. Known for his immersive installations that transform spaces into experiences, Eliasson encourages viewers to reflect on their relationship with themselves as well as the environment.
Featuring 40 works, the exhibition is inspired by Istanbul’s maritime landscape and engages directly with the Bosphorus, the body of water that the museum overlooks.
One of the exhibition’s highlights, Dusk to Dawn, Bosphorus, created specifically for this show, explores the ever-changing colors of the Bosphorus into the gallery space. Made from hand-blown glass panels stacked on driftwood, it embodies Eliasson’s ongoing exploration of color, light, and the natural world. This work also offers a preview of the color experiments that are further explored later in the exhibition.
This exhibition not only showcases Eliasson’s skill in capturing the viewer’s attention in our distraction-filled world, but also his ability to guide them— as all great art does— into a moment of quiet self-reflection.
Issue 66, December 2023
Turkey’s Centenary Issue
