Engage with your sense of perception as Olafur Eliasson’s creations come to life

Thu 19 Feb 2026

As we move, the flow of information which guides our perception of colour and light changes constantly. Olafur Eliasson amplifies this effect in this new artwork Your negotiable vulnerability seen from two perspectives 2025, which uses filters and other materials to modify the polarisation of light and challenge us to question the ‘truth’ of what we see.

Engage with your sense of perception as Eliasson’s creations come to life during his exhibition ‘Presence’ at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) until 12 July 2026.

Eliasson uses the polarisation of light to enable us to playfully move between one perspective and another. As we approach the circular lenses of Your negotiable vulnerability seen from two perspectives, we see black become white, and coloured forms suddenly become invisible, our movement that is required to activate these shifts is how we perceive the work.

Your negotiable vulnerability seen from two perspectives 2025

The ‘two perspectives’ referred to in the work’s title are set up around a central, circular lightbox that projects light in two directions. Transparent plastic elements are suspended on either side of the lightbox and a circular polarising filter acts as a viewfinder through which the visual phenomenon can be observed. A single polyhedron — a hexagonal bipyramid — rotates on one side, while on the other, two discs revolve about their axes, sometimes aligning with one another and sometimes overlapping. As the elements move, the relationship between the two materials shifts constantly, causing the shimmering colours to change. In addition to these elements in motion, viewers’ own movements and changing perspectives add further diversity to the artwork experience.

Delve into the work of Olafur Eliasson — immersive installations that play with light, colour and perception.

‘Presence’ is accompanied by an expansive publication produced in collaboration with Olafur Eliasson and his studio, as well as a range of exhibition merchandise.

The exhibition is complemented by QAGOMA’s interactive mobile companion, which includes an exhibition guide with curatorial insights, images, and behind-the-scenes videos, and a sense trail that invites visitors to experience selected artworks through gentle sensory prompts. When you buy your ticket to 'Presence', you’ll immediately get access to enhance your visit, so bring your headphones.

Olafur Eliasson: Presence
6 December 2025 – 12 July 2026
Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
Gallery 1.1 (The Fairfax Gallery), Gallery 1.2 & Gallery 1.3 (Eric and Marion Taylor Gallery)
Brisbane, Australia
Get tickets to 'Olafur Eliasson: Presence’