TASAF Lecture: Olafur Eliasson Playing with Light – Ian Swankie
Tuesday 21 April 2026
Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful session by Ian Swankie in The Arts Society at Firstsite (TASAF) Lecture series!
The Arts Society at Firstsite is an organisation about connecting people who have a passion for art.
TASAF is part of a global network of local societies, which bring people together through shared curiosity for the arts. You can learn more about it here.
We offer a series of 10 talks* from accredited lecturers based around the UK. Lectures take place throughout the year from September to June on the third Tuesday of each month.
Find out more about TASAF here.
Session Program
Olafur Eliasson Playing with Light (Lecture by Ian Swankie)
It is over twenty years since the young Icelandic/Danish artist, Olafur Eliasson, stunned the public with his Weather Project in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall.
His extraordinary gigantic sun created its own climate inside the building and over two million people went to see it. Since then, Olafur Eliasson has created dozens of spectacular installations around the world, playing with light, air and water, bringing some of the drama of Iceland into urban settings.
This talk will cover many of his projects and will examine his underlying philosophies.
About the Lecturer
Ian Swankie is a Londoner with a contagious enthusiasm for art and architecture. He is an official guide at Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Guildhall Art Gallery and St Paul’s Cathedral.
He is also a freelance London tour guide. Since 2012 he has led a popular weekly independent art lecture group in his hometown of Richmond in West London.
He is an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society, and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Art Scholars, one of the City Livery Companies.
Visit the Firstsite Café before or after TASAF Lecture Series session!
Our cafés offer a wide selection of delicious snacks, cakes and light meals, along with hot and cold drinks which can be purchased to enjoy.
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*This price is the set fee paid by all members irrespective of the date they join the society.
Ticket prices:
Standard £8 Mosaic Member £5.60 TASAF Member £0
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Length: 1 Hours
Dates and times
Tuesday 21 April 2026 | 2:30 pm