Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson's major survey exhibition 'Presence' has opened at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in Brisbane, Australia. Curated by Geraldine Kirrihi Barlow, the show synthesizes three decades of Eliasson's immersive installations, photography, and sculpture, including iconic works like 'Riverbed' (2014) and 'The cubic structural evolution project' (2004), both from QAGOMA's permanent collection. A spectacular new installation also titled 'Presence' features a pulsing artificial sun using mirrors and monofrequency light to create an illusion of infinite space.
The exhibition matters because it demonstrates QAGOMA's long-term commitment to Eliasson's practice while highlighting his enduring relevance in addressing climate change and environmental concerns. Eliasson's work, which connects to 20th-century movements like California's Light and Space and Minimalism, positions viewers as co-producers of meaning. Works such as 'Ice Watch' (2014) and 'The glacier melt series' (1998/2019) directly confront the climate emergency, making this show both a retrospective and a timely call to action about glacial retreat and ecological awareness.