‘Riverbed’ fills the white space of the museum with a grey, rocky landscape through which a narrow stream meanders. The landscape, comprising stones of various size and shape and in a range of grey tones, slopes up gently from where visitors enter and the stream disappears. Visitors are free to choose their own path as they move up towards the source of the stream, where the water bubbles up mysteriously through the stones. The contrast between these entirely new pathways and the routes suggested by the museum’s architecture challenges visitors’ expectations and invites them to find innovative ways of navigating the space. As the artwork was inspired by hikes Olafur took through the treeless landscape of his native Iceland, the stones used in the original installation, at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark, were sourced from the Nordic island. For sustainability reasons, however, the materials for the installation at QAGOMA were sourced locally and are placed in storage until the work is shown again. As a conceptual work of art, ‘Riverbed’ is both site-specific and adaptable. It takes on a new form each time it is installed and reflects the specific architecture of the location. ‘Riverbed’ is now part of the QAGOMA’s collection thanks to The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Trust. Images: ‘Riverbed’, 2014. Previously installed @QAGOMA in 2019 (photos: Natasha Harth).