A Conversation with Olafur Eliasson and Johanna Burton

An insightful conversation between acclaimed artist Olafur Eliasson and Johanna Burton, The Maurice Marciano Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles. Presented by The Museum of Contemporary Art, the USC School of Architecture, and USC Visions and Voices.

Eliasson’s upcoming exhibition at MOCA, titled Olafur Eliasson: Open, stems from his belief in the potential of inconclusiveness—the idea that in every artwork, exhibition, or experience there is an aspect that is radically open. He has long considered artworks to be only ever complete once they encounter the audience, whom he sees as responsible for co-producing the art. The artworks in turn host the viewers and their experiences. In this spirit, the artworks are fundamentally abstract—open to interpretation. They present not images or representations of our world but reflect rather the here and now: our embodied presence within space at a particular moment.

Olafur Eliasson: Open is among more than 60 exhibitions and programs presented as part of PST ART. Returning in September 2024 with its latest edition, PST ART: Art & Science Collide, this landmark regional event explores the intersections of art and science, both past and present. PST ART is presented by Getty. For more information about PST ART: Art & Science Collide, please visit pst.art.

Olafur Eliasson: Open opens September 15, 2024, at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in Little Tokyo.