108

Olafur Eliasson

b. 1967

"Eye Ceiling," 2005

Color-effect filter glass and metal, electrified
Appears unmarked
Base stored: 52.5" H x 26" W x 30" D, height variable; Shade: 21.875" H x 11.75" Dia.

  • Provenance:
    Emi Fontana West of Rome, The Jamie Residence, Pasadena, CA, 2005
    Private Collection, Los Angeles, CA, acquired from the above
  • Literature:
    Caroline Eggel ed., "Olafur Eliasson: Your Engagement has Consequences; On the Relativity of Your Reality", Studio Olafur Eliasson, Baden, 2006
  • Notes:
    Please note, this work is a unique work, illustrated on the artist's website.
    This lot is accompanied by a Sotheby's International Realty postcard of The Jamie Residence, where the piece was last exhibited.

    Olafur Eliasson is a Danish-Icelandic artist renowned for his immersive installations and innovative use of light, space, and natural elements. Born in 1967 in Copenhagen, Eliasson grew up in Denmark and Iceland, developing a deep appreciation for Iceland's stark, natural landscapes, which have greatly influenced his work. He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, where he began to explore the boundaries between nature, perception, and the built environment, ultimately developing a practice that fuses art with architecture, science, and ecology.

    Eliasson's latest exhibition, "Olafur Eliasson: OPEN," is currently on display at MOCA in Downtown Los Angeles through July 2025. The exhibition is a site-specific installation made for The Geffen Contemporary that highlights his career-long exploration of light and space. The present work, "Eye Ceiling" is a unique work that uses light and transparency to create its own immersive visual experience.

    Made in 2005, "Eye Ceiling" features a tall, cylindrical glass structure standing on a metal base, with a light source at its core. As the light filters through the tinted glass, it casts radiant bands of color across the surrounding walls and ceiling, producing a layered, halo-like effect that resembles an over-watching eye. The interplay of colors—from deep blues and purples to warm yellows and greens—creates a gradient that shifts with the viewer's perspective, embodying Eliasson's exploration of perception, color, and spatial awareness. This piece invites viewers to engage with the subtle, ever-changing qualities of light, drawing attention to the surrounding environment in a way that feels both natural and otherworldly.

    Eliasson's work often seeks to transform physical spaces, challenging viewers' perceptions of reality by using more than light, including mirrors, water, fog, and other materials that create ephemeral yet powerful experiences. "Eye Ceiling" is no exception, as it pushes the boundaries of light, space, and contemporary art.
  • Condition: Overall good condition. The shade with a few tiny chipped losses to bottom rim at areas of junctures with metal stand. Wiring should be checked by a qualified electrician prior to use. The original Halogen bulb has changed to an LED bulb per US Government Regulations and approved by the Olafur Eliasson Studio.

    Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.

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November 19, 2024 12:00 PM PST
Monrovia, CA, US

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