𝐎𝐥𝐚𝐟𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 : The Weather Project (2003)
The Weather Project (2003)
How often do you begin a conversation with a formal comment about the weather? Whether it be “isn’t it hot?” or “it’s so windy today”, these little observations, regardless of how obvious or trivial, have served as the foundation to everyday small talk for generations. Inspired by this social phenomenon, Danish contemporary artist Olafur Eliasson decided to recreate the firey ball in the sky that we call the Sun; though indoors this time.
‘𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵’ was an enormous art installation by Eliasson in 2003, utilizing the entirety of Turbine Hall in London, England. Visitors were invited to roam the hall as they please, absorbing the riveting artificial display of a warm apricot sky at sunset, accompanied with a light mist that dispersed and filled the space. Olafur had not only impressively recreated the experience of a sunset, but also our reaction to it with one another. Visitors were often seen sprawled across the floor embracing loved ones, as the installation managed to emulate the romantic phenomenon of a day’s transcendence into night. Eliasson believes that the weather is one of the few fundamental connections we still have with nature while living in the city.
The surreal experience was the product of brilliant engineering and eccentric detailing by Eliasson and his collaborative team. Olafur used monofrequency lights, projection foil, haze machines and aluminum to create the illusion of the sun setting in the dusk sky. Small mirrors were suspended from the ceiling by the hundreds, glaring down at guests as they pass through and doubling the rooms perceived volume. Prior to the exhibit opening, the artist surveyed the staff at Turbine Hall to inspire his advertising campaign. Through a series of questions such as “Has a weather phenomenon ever changed the course of your life dramatically?”, Olafur set the tone for what effect he intended the work to have on people.
