By Means of a Sudden Intuitive Realization

The igloo is a common element in the Icelandic landscape. They are used to cover the many hot water springs, the most effective natural energy source on the Nordic island. Olafur Eliasson´s By Means of a Sudden Intuitive Realization (1996) is an adaptation of the transportable architectural element. But instead of a spring, the artist is confronting us with a very simple play of light and water. Through the extremely short sequences of light, the continuous element of water appears in front of our eyes as individual drops, crystal-like and still in the air. This effect of time standing still for a fragment of a second is something happening in our perception and imagination. Olafur Eliasson is one of the most large-scale installations recreate artificially natural phenomena in order to examine the perception of light, time, gravity, movement and sound. Recurring elements in his production are steam, water, fire, wind or the sun. And the pleasure of the playful aspect in Eliasson’s work is last but not least, no other than the joy of perceiving, learning and realizing ourselves, as the title of the work suggests.