Olafur Eliasson: In real life

A great retrospective of Eliasson’s work at the Tate Modern. It’s all very photogenic – almost like he’s been preparing for Instagram for much of his career.

I really love that so many of them are different every time you look at them. You experience it in that moment, and it’s a bit different the next.

A fine mist of water drops in a dark room, lit from the side. A woman stands in front of the artwork.

Beauty, 1993, by Olafur Eliasson

2019/09/07
1/50s at f/2.8, 26mm, ISO 4500, Nikon D800
More in silhouette

A solid sphere of glass fills the right frame of the photo, set against black. There’s an image of a woman’s face magnified inside the glass.

The seeing space, 2015, by Olafur Eliasson

2019/09/07
1/60s at f/2.8, 30mm, ISO 900, Nikon D800

A close photo of many connecting metal rods making a 3d geometric shape.

Stardust particle, 2014, by Olafur Eliasson

2019/09/07
1/180s at f/2.8, 70mm, ISO 140, Nikon D800
More in patterns

A semi-solid sphere of made from metal rods hangs against an orange backdrop.

Stardust particle, 2014, by Olafur Eliasson

2019/09/07
1/250s at f/2.8, 70mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

A deep orange frame with no distinct features. Two bodies can just be seen in the background.

Your blind passenger, 2010, by Olafur Eliasson

2019/09/07
1/125s at f/2.8, 24mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800
More in silhouette

A photographer wearing a hat composes a photo inside an orange foggy room.

Your blind passenger, 2010, by Olafur Eliasson

2019/09/07
1/1000s at f/2.8, 29mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800
More in: silhouette and taking photos

Looking straight on to the elevator lobby in Tate Modern. The room is filled with orange light from a series of regularly spaced fluorescent lamps.

Room for one colour, 1997, by Olafur Eliasson

2019/09/07
1/750s at f/2.8, 24mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800
More in straight-on

A black sphere made from many hexagons and pieces of mirror.

Your planetary window, 2019, by Olafur Eliasson

2019/09/07
1/125s at f/2.8, 55mm, ISO 5600, Nikon D800
More in reflections

A semicircle of solid glass sits in a white wall. A hand is visible on the other side, magnified.

The seeing space, 2015, by Olafur Eliasson

2019/09/07
1/60s at f/2.8, 31mm, ISO 220, Nikon D800
More in reflections

Looking down a metallic tunnel to a light fixture at the end.

Your spiral view, 2002, by Olafur Eliasson

2019/09/07
1/50s at f/4.8, 24mm, ISO 2500, Nikon D800
More in straight-on

A round shower of water is frozen in mid air by strobe lighting.
A round shower of water is frozen in mid air by strobe lighting.
A round shower of water is frozen in mid air by strobe lighting.
A round shower of water is frozen in mid air by strobe lighting.
A round shower of water is frozen in mid air by strobe lighting.
Big Bang Fountain, 2014, by Olafur Eliasson
Small coloured plastic pieces join together to make geometric shapes.

The structural evolution project, 2001, by Olafur Eliasson

2019/09/07
1/100s at f/2.8, 52mm, ISO 1100, Nikon D800

Two people hold hands in a room. A light shines on them from one side, casting a multi-coloured shadow of them against the wall.

Your uncertain shadow (colour), 2010, by Olafur Eliasson

2019/09/07
1/100s at f/2.8, 44mm, ISO 2500, Nikon D800

A woman stands in front of a white wall. A light shines on her from behind, casting a multi-coloured shadow on the wall.
A woman stands in front of a white wall. A light shines on her from behind, casting a multi-coloured shadow on the wall.
A woman stands in front of a white wall. A light shines on her from behind, casting a multi-coloured shadow on the wall.
Your uncertain shadow (colour), 2010, by Olafur Eliasson
The shadow of Ed Horsford taking a photo with a large camera. His shadow is made up of multiple different colours from light yellow through to green and pink.

Your uncertain shadow (colour), 2010, by Olafur Eliasson

Ed Horsford ― 2019/09/07
1/17s at f/1.8, 28mm, ISO 100, iPhone 7
More in: self-portraits and taking photos

Shot at Tate Modern in London.