Carsten Höller, born in December 1961 in Brussels, Belgium, is a German contemporary artist whose work blends science, psychology, and immersive art experiences. Höller’s early life was marked by a unique cultural exposure, as his parents worked for the European Economic Community. Growing up in Brussels, Höller was surrounded by a variety of cultural influences that would later inform his work.

His academic journey began in the field of science. Höller earned a doctorate in agricultural science from the University of Kiel, focusing on the olfactory communication of insects. His dissertation, “Efficiency Analysis of the Parasitoids of Cereal Aphids,” laid the foundation for his deep engagement with biology and perception. He worked as an entomologist for several years, researching the behavioral patterns of insects, before shifting his focus to art in the early 1990s.

Höller's transition from science to art was not abrupt but rather a natural extension of his scientific curiosity. His work merges these two fields in a way that explores human perception, the mechanics of the senses, and the relationship between mind and environment. The influence of his scientific background is apparent in his artwork, which often incorporates experimental designs and invites the viewer to engage physically and psychologically. It was in the 1990s that he became associated with the Relational Aesthetics movement, a group of artists who use interactive and participatory methods to engage the viewer in the creation of the artwork. Artists like Pierre Huyghe and Rirkrit Tiravanija were key figures in this movement, with Höller standing out for his ability to make complex ideas about science and psychology accessible through immersive installations.

One of his earliest well-known works was Test Site (2006), which featured large-scale slides installed in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall. This installation invited visitors to physically engage with the architecture of the museum, offering an exhilarating experience that played with perceptions of space, movement, and control. In 2008, Höller’s The Double Club opened in London, a venue that juxtaposed Congolese and Western cultures in a distinctive way. This space included a bar, a restaurant, and a nightclub, creating a setting where participants could immerse themselves in a hybrid cultural experience.

In 2010, Höller’s work SOMA was presented at the Hamburger Bahnhof in Berlin. The exhibition featured reindeer, some of which had been fed fly agaric mushrooms, an homage to his ongoing fascination with altered states of consciousness. The piece explored the intersection of perception, reality, and the potential for transformative experiences. Höller’s work often pushes the boundaries of what art can be, inviting viewers to question their own perceptions, emotions, and responses to the world around them.

Perhaps one of his most striking contributions to public art was Aventura Slide Tower (2017), a 93-foot-high slide in Miami that visitors could ride down. This installation encapsulated Höller’s ongoing interest in making physical experiences a part of the artistic encounter. The slide itself, a simple yet thrilling structure, forced people to engage directly with art in a way that most traditional gallery settings never would.

Höller’s art often incorporates themes of disorientation, altered states of mind, and physicality. Whether using mushrooms, mirrors, or sensory deprivation tanks, his installations provoke a deep introspection on reality. His projects are designed not just to be seen but to be experienced. Visitors to his exhibitions are not passive observers but active participants who have the opportunity to influence their surroundings.

Today, Carsten Höller continues to create immersive works that engage both the mind and body. His recent projects include Giant Triple Mushrooms (2024), sculptures inspired by the psychoactive properties of mushrooms, and Brutalisten (2024), a restaurant concept in Stockholm that combines the worlds of culinary and artistic exploration. His works challenge viewers to reconsider how they interact with the world and often elicit a sense of wonder, confusion, or even unease.

Höller’s ability to combine art with science, to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, has established him as one of the most influential contemporary artists of his generation. For more about his work and upcoming exhibitions, you can visit his official website: carstenholler.com.