To mark Earth Day last year, the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson unveiled a new participatory artwork on Instagram, Earth perspectives, comprising nine orange and pink coloured images of the Earth with a dot in the middle. Each of the nine images features a different view of the planet, as taken over such celebrated natural wonders as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Ganges River in India and the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia.

Eliasson asked viewers to stare at the dot for about 10 seconds and then gaze at a blank surface where an afterimage in complementary colours appears — literally a new view of the world. Using a simple optical illusion, Eliasson prompted his audience to reflect on their relationship with the planet. ‘I want to advocate — as on any other day — that we recognise these various perspectives and, together, celebrate their co-existence.’

Earth perspectives was commissioned as part of the Serpentine Gallery’s 50th anniversary Back to Earth initiative, which featured works by artists, musicians, scientists, designers, filmmakers, architects and poets made in response to the climate emergency. Eliasson’s series of nine Instagram posts have since been viewed by around 100,000 people. Watch and share if you haven’t already.

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