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The gaze of Versailles, 2016 - Palace of Versailles, 2016 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The gaze of Versailles, 2016
Palace of Versailles, 2016
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The gaze of Versailles, 2016 - Palace of Versailles, 2016 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The gaze of Versailles, 2016
Palace of Versailles, 2016
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The gaze of Versailles, 2016 - Palace of Versailles, 2016 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The gaze of Versailles, 2016
Palace of Versailles, 2016
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The gaze of Versailles, 2016 - Palace of Versailles, 2016 - Photo: Anders Sune Berg
The gaze of Versailles, 2016
Palace of Versailles, 2016
Photo: Anders Sune Berg
At Studio Olafur Eliasson, The gaze of Versailles, 2016 (2016) peering out of the studio kitchen - Photo: Runa Maya Mørk Huber / Studio Olafur Eliasson
At Studio Olafur Eliasson, The gaze of Versailles, 2016 (2016) peering out of the studio kitchen
Photo: Runa Maya Mørk Huber / Studio Olafur Eliasson
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Two eye-sized golden spheres protrude from a wall on brass stalks. Displayed at eye-height and at eye’s-width apart, the spheres have pupil-like apertures in front, coaxing viewers to approach and peer inside. As the viewer approaches, she discerns her diminutive, inverted reflection within the gilded interior; as she moves even closer, the reflection zooms in until only a blurry image of an eye remains. At this distance, the dark inner surface of the sphere’s outer coating, speckled with an irregular multitude of bright flecks created by minuscule openings in the layer of gold, conveys the impression that the viewer is gazing into a miniature galaxy.

This work is produced in an edition of 366 examples, a number that corresponds with the number of days in 2016, the year in which it was produced.

Artwork details

Title

The gaze of Versailles

Year

2016

Materials

Glass sphere, gold, brass, in two parts