This installation by Icelandic–Danish artist Olafur Eliasson transforms the gallery into an expansive rocky landscape, unfolding across the floor in every direction. Thousands of stones in shades of grey, black and brown cover the ground – from pale blue-grey pebbles to large, dark boulders – their varied tones contrasting sharply with the crisp white walls that frame the space. Gravel and sand settle between the stones, creating a textured surface that crunches underfoot.

From Riverbed’s entry point, the rocky terrain rises gently upwards, as though sloping toward a hillside. Cutting through the stones is a narrow stream of flowing water. No wider than a few hand spans, it twists and bends across the slope, glistening as it catches the light. The stream emerges from an unseen source at the far end of the gallery, its water bubbling softly between the rocks as it winds downhill, finally gathering in a small reflective pool at the bottom of the incline.

The air is cool and still. The faint sound of trickling water can be heard nearby. There are no designated pathways through the work. Visitors are invited to step onto the uneven ground, choosing their own route across the stony surface. Our movements must be careful and deliberate, with each step shaped by the shifting stones.

Riverbed fills the gallery with the sensation of an expansive outdoor landscape, transforming the constructed space into a natural environment, dominated by rocky terrain animated by the presence of flowing water.

Feature image: Olafur Eliasson's Riverbed 2014, installed at GOMA for 'Air' in 2019 / Water, rock (volcanic stones [blue basalt, basalt, lava], other stones, gravel, sand), wood, steel, plastic sheeting, hose, pumps / Purchased 2021. The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust Collection: The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust, QAGOMA / © 2014 Olafur Eliasson / Photograph: N Harth, QAGOMA