Olafur Eliasson is half Danish and half Icelandic, and he is installing a decorative pendant at the terrace bar of Tate Modern. This is not just an art object, but also a commentary on the role which light plays in real life.
This “QE Quasi Light” installation is at Tate Modern as part of the Olafur Eliasson retrospective, which runs from July 11, 2019, to January 05, 2020. The artist said the relationship between geometric shapes inspired the light, first featured at the event Milan Design Week (MDW). He said he used geometric shapes to make light beams, which reinforced the notion that having fine light equals a fine life.
Eliasson said, “What distinguishes it from so many lamps is that it shines in toward the core, from which the light is reflected back out onto the surroundings. In one form, the lamp combines precision in design with quality atmospheric lighting.”
The light is designed by considering sustainable longevity, and the aluminum used for it was made of 90% recycled materials, and it is possible to recycle and reuse the other materials.
Its sustainable view fits in with the body of work of Eliasson, which will be put on view at Tate Modern. “Olafur Eliasson: In real life” is the most comprehensive display of the artist’s work to date. For the retrospective, the art gallery in London will bring together over 30 works by Eliasson that spanned the previous three decades. This will include his early installations, new sculptures and paintings, and his projects centered around sustainability, education, architecture and migration.
It is the first time a retrospective devoted to Olafur Eliasson is displaying work he has collaborated on, beyond the world of fine art. These non-art projects include one known as “Little Sun”, which has given solar-powered chargers and lamps to communities not having access to electric power.
Another one, called “Green Light – An Artistic Workshop”, saw refugees and asylum seekers working together with other people on making lamps and taking part in a project relating to education.
Another one dealt with climate change, a global issue, with an installation which featured glacial ice taken from Greenland in a bid to encourage the common public to do something more in the fight against it.
The Olafur Eliasson retrospective will also be accompanied by many public events, which will provide visitors with better insight into his thought process, in addition to sessions from musicians, architects and other experts from various fields. So do take part in these also, when on Tate Modern guided tours anytime soon.