We went in the middle of a very hot summer day just to see the latest exhibition at QAGOMA Olafur Eliasson Presence.
Before going, we kept thinking what kind of work could actually feel immersive. We couldn’t really picture it. Then we realised the most direct way to experience it was to observe my own state of mind. From the moment we walked in, we started paying attention to how we felt in each space.
Before entering, we read the description talking about light, mist and a rainbow appearing in front of you. It sounded abstract, and we were not sure what to expect. When we first walked in, it was almost completely dark. You could barely see anything. We hesitated and almost walked out.
The moment we stepped deeper into the space, suddenly everything changed. In front of us was a glowing scene of mist and light, with a rainbow forming inside it. It felt like walking into something unreal.
At that moment, people who are willing to step into the dark are the ones who get to see something different. You don’t see it unless you move forward.
Other works were also interesting. Melting ice on Gunnar’s land felt very controlled and minimal, but the way colour and environment were used made you slow down and look longer.
From one angle you see one set of colours, from another angle everything shifts. There is no fixed version of the work!
That’s probably what we liked most about Olafur Eliasson’s work. Light is not just there to make things visible. It becomes the thing you are observing.
Overall it’s a very different kind of exhibition. Not overwhelming, but it keeps pulling your attention back to yourself. It’s worth going with friends or family, but also worth taking your time inside.
The exhibition runs until 12 July 2026.
QAGOMA