Olafur Eliasson in Basel - The Fondation Beyeler is under water - for art

[Eva Libre]

Olafur Eliasson floods the Fondation Beyeler with his installation “Life” - and thereby questions the separation of nature and culture.

A boardwalk leads across the lawn to the water lily pond. But the pond does not end in front of the windows of the Fondation Beyeler, as it normally does. The still, green water expands into the rooms - wherever art is shown, there is a pond on the floor.

For the installation “Life” by Olafur Eliasson, the facade facing the garden with the large windows was removed. The pond was raised ten centimeters and floods the exhibition rooms. The inside flows into the outside and vice versa.

The water was colored green with sodium salt. This will break down by itself.
Beyeler Foundation / Mark Niedermann

A little wilderness in the showrooms

The effect of the newly created landscape is enormous: the white walls act as a contrast to the bright green water. This was colored with sodium salt, a non-toxic substance that breaks down when exposed to sunlight.

There are small plants in the water. These grow and spread over the course of the exhibition. A small wilderness arises between the lawn of the park and the white walls of the museum.

The art of Olafur Eliasson

A deliberate effect, as Sam Keller, director of the Fondation Beyeler, explains: "This work of art is not just made for people." Plants, animals and microorganisms are also invited - everything that would otherwise be kept away from the exhibition rooms with great effort. “This makes us realize that we are not alone and that we share this living space and the planet,” says Keller.

Art, nature, people

Olafur Eliasson's installation not only opens the exhibition space to nature. It also seduces visitors to reflect on the relationship between art and nature. Because humans, too, with all their microorganisms, are part of nature - a central idea for the artist Eliasson.

The installation is open 24/7. The room can also be admired in the middle of the night.
Beyeler Foundation / Mark Niedermann

The Danish-Icelandic concept artist dispenses with large explanations or texts on the wall in his installation. Eliasson relies on the aesthetic experience.

And this enchants over and over again: every breath of wind, every cloud changes the shimmer and color of the water and thus the effect of the rooms. The installation is open 24 hours a day. The artificial pond can also be admired at night or at dawn.

Exhibition notice:

The installation “Life” by Olafur Eliasson at the Fondation Beyeler can be seen until July 11th. More information is available here

and here  the site of Olafur Eliasson

[Rosmarie Heusser]

∼ WOW...This is truly extraordinary and very beautiful! ∼ Thanks for sharing it here. ∼ Have a great week, Eva  ∼