Thumbnails Images Information
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026 - Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026 - Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026
Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026
Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026 - Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026 - Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026
Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026
Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026 - Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026 - Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026
Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026
Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026 - Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026 - Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026
Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026
Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026 - Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026 - Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026
Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026
Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026 - Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026 - Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026
Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026
Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026 - Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026 - Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026
Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026
Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026 - Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026 - Photo: Jens Ziehe
Compass for un-losing yourself, 2026
Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin – 2026
Photo: Jens Ziehe
1 of 8

An old, disused nautical compass is mounted within a specially built circular table. 
A spotlight is situated at the centre of the X-stretcher at the bottom of the table. The light shines up at the compass from below through a colour-effect filter installed between the light and the compass. The colour-effect filter is composed of a special material that reflects certain wavelengths of light while allowing others to pass through it. As a result, the light projected onto the ceiling is yellow, whereas the patch reflected on the ground is blue. 


Navigational instruments have long inspired Eliasson. According to the artist, compasses orient us not only geographically but also socially by virtue of their constant orientation towards magnetic north. They gesture to a common point of orientation that transcends our subjective perspectives.

Artwork details

Title

Compass for un-losing yourself

Year

2026

Materials

Wood (smoked oak), nautical compass, brass, color-effect filter glass (yellow), stainless steel, paint (black), LED light, ballast