Elian Somers lives and works in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
With a background in visual arts and architecture, Elian Somers investigates the urban and utopian landscape, in particular the interplay between architecture and urbanism, ideologies and (geo)politics. In recent years she has been working on projects as
A Mountain Afar (2023-), A Stone from the Moon (2015-2022), One and Another State of Yellow (2013-2017), Border Theories (2009-2013), California City (2010-2012) and Droom als er ooit een was / A Dream if Ever There Was One (2006-2008). In these long-term, research-based projects she is in search of constructed realities and truths, hidden and virtual histories, and the utopian experiment. Multiple realities, histories and truths intermingle in her works.
The works are presented as spatial film or photography installations and can be perceived as critical tools for understanding and figuring out the present and the future. Through the combination of film/photography, cartography and archival materials - from documented and accepted knowledge sources to their undocumented and controversial counterparts - alternative and unexpected perspectives on reality, truth and history are brought to light and generated.

The works have been shown at various art venues, a.o. Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam (SMBA), Amsterdam; Pennings Foundation, Eindhoven; Foam, Amsterdam; TENT, Rotterdam; Kunsthalle Wilhelmshaven, Wilhelmshaven (DE) and MK Galerie, Berlin (DE). The works have also been regularly published as artist books, and in art, photography and architecture magazines. The book One and Another State of Yellow (Fw: Books) was published in 2017, and the book Border Theories (Fw: Books) in 2013. The work Ecumenopolis (A Stone from the Moon) was selected for the International Film Festival Rotterdam, 2024.
Elian Somers' projects have been financially supported by the Mondriaan Fund, Amsterdam, Culture Fund, Amsterdam, and CBK Rotterdam.

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