Olafur Eliasson at Istanbul Modern

Istanbul Modern is hosting a comprehensive selection of works from the 30-year career of the Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, whose projects have garnered worldwide acclaim.

"Olafur Eliasson: Your unexpected encounter," the artist's first solo exhibition in Türkiye, offers an opportunity to explore the artist's three-decade-long practice and the themes central to it.

The comprehensive exhibition features nearly 40 works, including new productions. Curated by Öykü Özsoy Sağnak, Nilay Dursun and Ümit Mesci from the museum's curatorial team, the exhibition focuses on water, light, color, perception, movement, geometry and the environment.

Eliasson, who participated in the fifth International Istanbul Biennial in 1997 with his work "Beauty," said that he is excited to return to Istanbul.

"Without that encounter with Istanbul almost three decades ago, I would not be the artist I am today, so it is exciting to return to Istanbul, a city that has a lot of personal significance for me. I am particularly intrigued by the city's unique position on the Bosphorus, which is an important point of connection for maritime traffic. Navigation, orientation and the sea have been crucial themes in my art over the years, but they have a special meaning here — in the new, permanent work I created for Istanbul Modern and in my exhibition 'Your unexpected encounter.' Visitors can take their time inside the museum, orienting themselves among the artworks, and then turn their attention to the outside, where ships pass by the gallery en route to destinations around the world," Eliasson said.

Eliasson emphasizes that his works are only complete when viewers engage with them and consider this active participation to be an important component of his...