Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Inside Olafur Eliasson's studio


I recently received these photos from Guðmundur Oddur Magnússon, who took them while visiting Einar Thorsteinn in Olafur Eliasson’s Berlin studio. Readers of this blog will remember that Einar is an architect, mathematician, and visionary, a protégée of Buckminster Fuller, who collaborates with Olafur on his geometric constructions and the Model Room, which has been exhibited widely (see labels below).  Terry Perk of the University of the Creative Arts (U.K.), Erica Spizz, cinematographer, and I are nearing completion of our film about Olafur and Einar’s unusual and prolific collaboration. Guðmundur also took the amazing photographs of the Icelandic volcanic eruption I posted at the time.









14 comments:

jen said...

thank you for posting these photos & info Carol! i am a fellow artist, fascinated by the work & ideas of Eliasson, Fuller, and now (thanks to your blog) Magnusson and Thorsteinn. i absolutely love these pics of the models -- my favorite part of the SFMOMA exhibit of Eliasson was the room full of small-scale models. like sketchbook sketches come to life! good luck on the film, and can't wait to (hopefully) see it!

Yep, Uh Huh said...
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Yep, Uh Huh said...
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martha miller said...

Gorgeous photos!! Like looking inside a giant brain. (Love the ducks on the computer screen! :^D)

lxv said...

I love these photos. It makes me think of wizards & alchemists rather than architects. It's also nice to know there are people who prefer to surround themselves with the physical evidence rather than virtual reality.

Carol Diehl said...

I did delete a comment--now, two, from the same person, who said that I could dish it out but not take it.

Regular readers of my writing will know that I NEVER make personal comments, never characterize anyone negatively. It's important to me to separate the person from the work, and that any negative comments or criticisms I make are ONLY about the work, with appropriate explanation as to why, and hopefully helpful.

I welcome divergent ideas--that's what dialogue is all about.

On the other hand it it IS my blog, and I therefore reserve the right to delete mean-spirited, personally-directed comments as I see fit.

I am also pleased to note that in four years of writing in this public space, this is the first time I have had to do so.

Anonymous said...

Re: ''Carol Who?''

Well - and I take NO pleasure in saying this - the reader did have a point.

Carol Diehl said...

The difference is that I’m willing to put my name on my opinions, where you are not. Anonymity brings easy courage. Therefore, like other blogs, I will enable comment moderation. I will post comments by anyone who presents with a Google-able name, but among those that are anonymous, reserve the right to choose the ones that contribute intelligently to the conversation.

lxv said...

Carol, what a pity this beautful post had to be de-railed by trolls. I like "Art Vent" precisely because my opinion does not always coincide, but the writing is good and the viewpoints so personal, it's hard not to take a closer look. I was not a particular fan of Eliasson until you began posting all kinds of treasures I would not have seen elsewhere. Thank you for this.

Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the pressure of so many personalities elbowing their way through the internet, but the positives outweigh. Anonymous ad hominem spewing unfortunately is part of the package. The people who do this, previously had no such easy outlet; alas, it's the price we pay and a reminder that malcontents never sleep. Comment moderation is a bit of a nuisance, but it's there for a reason.

deb said...

I am still waiting in anticipation for this film... I know it will be a must see for me and my students.

Carol Diehl said...

Deb, if you will send me an email (see Profile) telling us where you teach, perhaps we can arrange to have a screening there.

Carol Diehl said...

And thanks for your comment, lxv. I only do this because it's fun, and I want to keep it that way.

Anonymous said...

Hi Carol. I found my way to this old post yours through a link in a newsletter I regularly receive from the Buckmister Fuller Institute, who recently published an article in honor of Einar Thorstein.

I'd never heard of him before. Viewing these photos and others I've found around the web, I see that his designs, his interests and mine are so *very* closely allied that it's almost scary. It frustrates the hell out of me that I've only learned of his existence on account of his death. It seems to me you're very fortunate to have met him, and I'm jealous!

Thank you for publishing these fabulous and fascinating photographs.

Kevin Kihn

kevin_2050@yahoo.com

Carol Diehl said...

Thank you, Kevin!! I am very fortunate indeed to have had a friend in Einar, and feeling his loss keenly. If you look up his name, there may be more entries about him on my blog. Also we made a film with Olafur about their collaboration, The Model Room, on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/43313900. And I'm glad to know about the newsletter entry. Can I find it on the Web? Or can you email it to me? artventblog@gmail.com.