Renowned artist Olafur Eliasson’s 1st Türkiye exhibit to debut at Istanbul Modern

By Omer Faruk Yildiz

ISTANBUL (AA) - Istanbul Modern is set to host world-renowned Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson’s first solo exhibition in Türkiye, celebrating his masterful artworks.

The exhibition "Your Unexpected Encounter," showcasing an extensive selection of Eliasson’s work over a 30-year career, will open Friday. Two of Türkiye’s largest conglomerates, Eczacibasi Group and VitrA, sponsor the event.

Eliasson announced the details of the exhibition, featuring his works that explore the concepts of light, color, and reflection, at a meet-the-press event in Istanbul on Thursday.

He was accompanied by Istanbul Modern Chairperson Oya Eczacibasi and Eczacibasi CEO Atalay Gumrah.

Speaking to the media, Eliasson said he was happy to return to Istanbul with his first solo Turkish exhibition, nearly four decades after he first visited the city during the 1997 Istanbul Biennial.

He added that the exhibition showcases his diverse works from the last 30 years, including new artworks and installations created specifically for the event in Istanbul.

Eliasson referred to the exhibition's title and spoke about unexpected encounters in daily life, adding that he draws inspiration from philosopher Alvin Noe's idea that individuals create experiences.

He emphasized that his exhibition aimed to provide visitors with unexpected shared experiences and described his works as incomplete, leaving room for visitors to fill in the gaps.

He stressed the importance of connecting with the world around us and suggested that his artistic creations might fulfill unmet needs for acceptance and recognition in life.

The exhibition, curated by Oyku Ozsoy Sagnak, Nilay Dursun, and Umit Mesci, will remain open till Feb. 9, 2025.