Olafur Eliasson’s sensory spectacle at SAM

ONE of the world’s most celebrated artists, Olafur Eliasson, has just opened a solo show at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM). The showcase of 17 of his important works incorporate elements such as light, water, wind and temperature to constantly challenge the viewer’s perception of the world.

The Danish-Icelandic artist is best known for his extraordinary 2003 installation at London’s Tate Modern, which gave visitors the illusion of standing incredibly close to the sun, with its powerful rays artfully piercing the misty atmosphere. The work was so elemental and hypnotic that British critics rank it as the 11th most important artwork of the 21st century.

Eliasson is also credited for co-inventing Little Sun, a small solar-powered LED lamp that has been a godsend for rural communities with little access to proper electricity. Using these lamps, hundreds of thousands of people living in off-grid areas have been able to cook, study and work at night.