olafur eliasson’s viewing machine reveals kaleidoscopic vistas
the lush green vegetation and rare tropical botanicals of the brazilian countryside are abstracted and refracted through the six mirrored panels that make up the machine.
kaleidoscopic impressions of vibrant green landscapes are revealed while looking through olafur eliasson’s ‘viewing machine’ installed at inhotim, a contemporary art center and botanical garden located in brumadinho, brazil. the 270 acre space is made up of forest fragments and gardens — with an extensive collection of rare tropical species — consisting of an international compilation of exhibition pavilions and open-air sculptures.
‘viewing machine’ is made up of six mirrors forming a hexagonal tube
(above) image courtesy of instituto inhotim © ricardo mallaco
(main) image courtesy of instituto inhotim © daniela paoliello
eliasson’s machine is set atop a high point of the museological complex, overlooking its vast natural environment. it is made up of six mirrored panels forming a hexagonal tube, which visitors are invited to maneuver towards a point of interest. peering through the conical structure, superimposed refractions from the shiny facade create a myriad of prismatic forms, reflecting the lush green vegetation and revealing the forest scape as a kaleidoscope.
atop a hill at the contemporary art park, olafur eliasson’s artwork looks out to the lush forestscape
image courtesy of instituto inhotim © daniela paoliello
looking through the machine, a myriad of reflective forms are revealed
image courtesy of instituto inhotim © daniela paoliello
‘viewing machine’ overlooks the forest fragments and gardens at inhotim
image courtesy of instituto inhotim © ricardo mallaco
