WeTransfer has announced that Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson will be the new guest curator for its creative storytelling platform, WePresent. Founded in 2018, WePresent serves as the editorial branch of the file transfer company, inviting globally recognized artists to share stories and artworks that address important societal issues. Past curators have included American singer Solange, Serbian conceptual artist Marina Abramović, and English actor Russell Tovey.
Eliasson is considered one of the most influential artists of the 21st century. His notable achievements include representing Denmark at the 2003 Venice Biennale, creating a towering faux sun in the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall the same year, and installing sculptural interventions at the Versailles Palace in 2014. Central to his practice is exploring how insights are gained through the interplay of bodily movements and sensory experiences.
“I’m grateful to WeTransfer for inviting me to be the guest curator this year,” Eliasson said. “WePresent is a vibrant space that is both personal and boundless – something I find particularly valuable in 2024. Together, we hope to amplify voices addressing the pressing issues of our time.”
As guest curator, Eliasson will showcase his own works and spotlight those of other artists who reflect on the climate emergency and related justice issues, gender inequality, and systemic racism. “What’s pertinent to me about this year is the understanding that we live in a moment of polycrisis: the climate emergency is deeply entangled with racial injustice, digital inequality, economic instability, the spread of disease, and more. No crisis can be seen or addressed in isolation from another,” Eliasson explained.
Confirmed collaborators include art director Sarah Masete, Egyptian new media artist Hadeer Omar, and writer Neema Githere. “Artists, musicians, writers, dancers, performers – they all give shape to the complexity of our present moment and can speak to us directly as individuals,” Eliasson added.
Stay tuned for a year of thought-provoking and impactful content on WePresent, curated by Olafur Eliasson.
