Sunrise dew drops, 2023 

This vibrant cluster of glass spheres continues a line of investigation that Eliasson began in 2013. The spheres are arranged on a wall in a formation that radiates out from the centre in a geometry that is regular but not easily identifiable to the viewer. The structure was inspired by the single-celled algae known as diatoms. Found around the world in oceans and waterways, these tiny organisms produce a great deal of the planet’s oxygen and remove large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. They are characterised by complexly patterned frustules, or shells, made out of silica, which exhibit exquisite symmetry and geometrical complexity.

Seen from the front, all the spheres are shades of yellow, with the smaller spheres at the centre a lighter tone than the larger ones at the outer limits. The viewers and their surroundings are reflected upside down in the monochromatic inner surfaces of the spheres. The wide angle allows each to capture a view of the entire cluster, encompassing not only the visitors but the whole mirrored-glass system that produces their reflections. As viewers change position in relation to the work, the reflections move off in the opposite direction in sync, an experience that can be slightly disorienting. At the same time, the yellow tones wax and wane as visitors move to either side of the work. Seen from an extreme angle, the colour disappears and the spheres reveal clear glass interiors. This effect is created by covering the back third of each with a mirror finish and a thin layer of transparent yellow paint. The curved glass causes the colour to swell and fill the interior when it is viewed from the correct angle. Eliasson considers these works to be optical devices that conjure new ways of seeing through tiny destabilisations.