The Urbanist: Olafur Eliasson and How Public Art Changes Your Perspective on a City
Podcast: The Urbanist by Monocle
Episode Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Andrew Tuck
Guests: Olafur Eliasson (Artist), Stella Iannou (Artistic Director, Sculpture in the City), Carlotta Rebello (Monocle)
Episode Overview
This episode of The Urbanist examines the transformative power of public art within cities through two main conversations:
- A deep-dive interview with renowned Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson about his first permanent public work in the UK, located in the new Oxford North innovation district.
- A conversation with Stella Iannou, artistic director of London’s “Sculpture in the City,” exploring the annual public sculpture exhibition and its urban impact.
Both segments focus on the way public art redefines urban environments, sparks collective experiences, and encourages us to reconsider our place—both socially and cosmically—within city spaces.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Olafur Eliasson: Art as an Urban Catalyst
Eliasson’s Work at Oxford North
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[02:48] Project Description:
- Eight sculptural forms, thematically inspired by the solar system, are installed in the green heart of Oxford North.
- Each “planet” sculpture incorporates a circular bench beneath it, enabling social interaction, reflection, and gathering.
- At night, the sculptures glow softly, serving as subtle navigational aids while enhancing the park’s atmosphere.
Quote:
“Each of them underneath the sort of sphere that looks like a little bit like a planet, there’s a bench, circular bench, which you can sit on... It might be a little bit like sitting around a campfire or sitting in a circle... At night it has a light or it glows... as a street lamp, you could say.”
—Olafur Eliasson [02:48]
Project’s Design Philosophy
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[04:53] Before designing, Eliasson deeply investigates the context: intended use, audience, values, and hospitality.
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Considers how public space both shapes and mirrors communal values, aiming for work that feels authentic and generous.
Quote:
“It is, of course, a public space, and this means that it is a space that belongs to all of us... We want our public spaces to somehow reflect our beliefs and our values and our intentions of how we want to live.”
—Olafur Eliasson [04:53]
Art as an Instrument for Questioning
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[07:51] Art should invite self-reflection, challenging users' habits and provoking new ways of engaging—physically and emotionally—with their surroundings.
Quote:
“If a space is well designed, it holds the potential of reflecting our unmet emotional needs...getting lost and finding your path again...is an opportunity for you to question, is it actually right the way I always do things?”
—Olafur Eliasson [07:51]
Permanent vs. Ephemeral Art
- [10:23] Eliasson sees different value in permanent versus temporary works: permanence allows slow, repeated discovery, while ephemeral works can be more provocative or immediate.
Universal Resonance and Human Connection
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[12:06] Eliasson’s wide appeal comes from deep listening and trust-building—art as a process of humanization, not instruction.
Quote:
“There’s something profoundly humanizing in actually sitting down and not say something, but listening to each other... Once you are honest, there is trust. And once there's trust, there is love. So my secret is that I love the way people see the world.”
—Olafur Eliasson [12:06]
Art, Activism, and Global Challenges
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[13:45] Eliasson recounts his project bringing Greenlandic ice to Rome, where it was blessed by Pope Francis, spotlighting climate change in an accessible, unbureaucratic way.
Memorable Story:
“We agreed to just call our friends in Greenland, just as a little fishing boat and get a nice blue chunk of 20,000 year old ice...ship it to Rome...snuggled it in, smuggled it off to the stage.”
—Olafur Eliasson [13:45]
Public Art as Social Investment
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[16:32] Public art is a powerful tool for building belonging, acknowledgment, dignity, and ultimately, civic participation.
Quote:
“You have every place has a sort of signature...and I think once you have a sense of belonging...then you have, I think, something truly unique. And in that space you can then evolve...Art is an incredible investment also...there's a return on that public investment, investment simply in societal upside.”
—Olafur Eliasson [16:32]
2. Stella Iannou: Curating the Pulse of Cities with Sculpture in the City
Origins and Growth
- [18:26] Began as an experiment with one sculpture in London’s “Eastern City Cluster”; quickly expanded due to enthusiastic reception—now in its 14th edition with 162 artworks by 137 artists showcased to date.
Transformative Urban Role
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[19:00] Public art brings warmth, playfulness, and human scale to the “inhumane” towers and office blocks of London’s financial district.
Quote:
“It’s a space or a place which is defined by these monster buildings, which are all very shiny...But with the art, we kind of retain this level of interest. Public art makes spaces feel much more welcoming.”
—Stella Iannou [18:26] -
[20:40] Changing installations allow people to experience the same space in new, surprising ways each year. Memorable examples include Robert Indiana’s “Love” and Richard Macness’s “Temple.”
Public Art and Wellbeing
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[22:50] Artworks—even sound pieces like Marina Abramovic’s “Tree”—can create moments of wonder and calm, offering meaningful breaks from urban routine and improving daily life.
Story:
“On the Monday after we installed the artwork, I got an email...‘You’ve completely transformed my morning walk to the office because now I can stop by the tree and listen to the artwork and that’s going to make a huge difference to my everyday.’ And that’s the power of public art.”
—Stella Iannou [22:52]
Curatorial Process and Community Engagement
- [24:09] Artwork selection starts with the art itself—chosen for its ability to hold attention amid the visual and acoustic “noise” of the city. Every piece is sited in close collaboration with the artist, seeking meaningful connections between artwork and place.
- [28:30] Community programming includes family sculpture festivals and children-as-critics TV segments, making art accessible and participatory for all.
Personal Highlights
- [28:50] Unforgettable installations include Ai Weiwei’s “Forever,” a monumental piece built after the artist’s release from house arrest:
“...1,274 bicycle frames...work which was 15 meters long, 7 meters tall and 5 meters wide...Weiwei was here. So for me, if I was to pick my biggest highlight of all times was actually meeting Weiwei that morning when he came to see the installation.”
—Stella Iannou [28:50]
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Olafur Eliasson:
- “Essentially we always experience what we bring along in our suitcase, in our mental and emotional suitcase.” [07:51]
- “Public space...belongs to all of us...We look after together. It hopefully represent our values.” [04:53]
- “Once you are honest, there is trust. And once there's trust, there is love.” [12:06]
- Stella Iannou:
- “It’s about making the space feel welcome and cared for, giving people the opportunity to see things on their daily commute and hopefully get their noses and their eyes away from their phones.” [22:12]
- “Children are always the best art critics because there’s absolutely zero filter to what they’re seeing and what they’re saying.” [29:57]
Important Timestamps
- [02:48] — Eliasson describes his Oxford North project
- [04:53] — On designing public art for new developments
- [07:51] — The role of questioning and self-reflection in public art
- [13:45] — Story of bringing ancient Greenland ice to the Pope
- [16:32] — Why public art matters for community and democracy
- [18:26] — Stella Iannou on Sculpture in the City's history
- [22:52] — The impact of Abramovic’s “Tree” sound installation
- [28:50] — The assembly of Ai Weiwei’s “Forever” and meeting the artist
Tone and Concluding Themes
- The episode is thoughtful and optimistic, deeply invested in the civic and human dimension of public art.
- Both Eliasson and Iannou speak with a sense of humility and wonder, highlighting how public art is a collective endeavor and source of shared meaning in urban life.
- Host Andrew Tuck concludes by drawing a distinction between good and bad public art, urging listeners to recognize the power of impactful, well-considered works to foster connection and community.
Further Information
- Sculpture in the City: sculptureinthecity.org.uk
- More on Olafur Eliasson: olafureliasson.net
- Monocle magazine: monocle.com
This summary captures discussion highlights, key insights, and notable quotes to provide a comprehensive understanding of the episode, reflecting the speakers’ original language and the spirit of the conversation.