For Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson , some encounters are more expected than others. Yet his "Your Unexpected Encounter" at Istanbul Modern undeniably offers a genuinely surprising experience. Eliasson, who has garnered widespread acclaim for his projects and works around the world, bases his art on the idea that experiences are defined by the meanings attributed to them rather than being inherently given.
He arrives in Türkiye with his first solo exhibition, presenting a comprehensive selection from his 30-year career, which he describes as a survey. Expressing great excitement about holding such an exhibition in Istanbul, Eliasson hopes visitors will welcome this "encounter" with "open eyes and open arms." This exhibition is an experience that demands the active "participation" of the viewer.
According to Eliasson, engagement enhances the experience. Unlike the controlled aspects of our personal lives, jobs and many other daily responsibilities, Eliasson offers the audience a new space where unexpected experiences come with relaxed control mechanisms. It is a surprise, a deviation from the norm, an opposition: a bit of chaos.
In this context, Eliasson sees museums as excellent places to rehearse and take risks. These spaces, where Eliasson takes risks, encourage the audience to approach the unexpected and share the experience. Describing his encounter with Istanbul, Eliasson says it was "something he had felt but hadn't set yet.
" "If it weren't for my encounter wi.
