38 Quotes by Olafur Eliasson

For the sake of sanity, the brain and the eyes keep things simple. But take away the sense of sight and suddenly things are not so simple.

Ive walked a lot in the mountains in Iceland. And as you come to a new valley, as you come to a new landscape, you have a certain view. If you stand still, the landscape doesnt necessarily tell you how big it is. It doesnt really tell you what youre looking at. The moment you start to move the mountain starts to move.

The viewer brings something individual to the experience of any artwork.

I always try to make work that activates the viewer to be a co-producer of our shared reality.

Over the years, in making art, I have constantly explored issues dealing with space, time, light, and society. I am particularly interested in how the light of a space determines how we see that space and similarly, in how light and color are actually phenomena within us, within our own eyes.

Having an experience is taking part in the world. Taking part in the world is really about sharing responsibility.

My goal is to formulate a new color theory based on the full spectrum of visible light.

I want to expose and evaluate the fact that the seeing and sensing process is a system that should not be taken for granted as natural – it’s a cultivated means of reality production that, as a system, can be negotiated and changed.

I don’t think you need to be so result-oriented when you’re trying to define the success of an art work. I think we can allow some unpredictability.