Some messages are difficult to express with words. That’s where artists come in. A striking work of art can turn an event that seems distant into a personal experience. Art can make abstract ideas more relatable. The artist featured here uses his work as a tool to make complicated topics more accessible.
Born in 1967, Olafur Eliasson (OH-la-fer el-EE-ah-suhn) grew up in Iceland and Denmark. As a child, he studied art with his father, who was also an artist. In the early 2000s, he realized he could use art to communicate about humankind’s relationship with nature. He often collaborates with architects and scientists to build his installations.