“The Trees” Stockwood Discovery Center, Luton, UK, 2022

For nearly a decade, Jin Choi and Thomas Shine of Choi + Shine Architects have turned to the community to produce elaborate crocheted lacework for their public installations. From the Netherlands to the United States to Japan, they've used the power of art to bring people together and create something beautiful for all to enjoy.

While Shine focuses on the structural aspect of the installation, Choi creates a crochet pattern that can be produced by people of different skill levels. Often referencing 16th-century patterns, Choi notes that lace weaves across many cultures and traditions, making it the perfect item to bring people together. While the duo initially turned to volunteers in order to produce large-scale work in a tight timeframe, they quickly realized that working with others instilled their art with a deeper meaning.

“Through community involvement, the work enables participants to share the ownership and sense of achievement,” the architects tell My Modern Met. “It is most rewarding when participants enter the studio every day, asking ‘How is our work today?’ or when they tell us, ‘My sons, who never spoke to me like that before, told me that they are proud of me,’ with such joy and pride in their eyes.

“When we witness many different people from all walks of life, young and old, different languages and origins, come together, laugh together, and help each other, we understand the purpose of art.”

The finished pieces are quite impressive, with the lace providing a familiar warmth to structures that are often quite modern. And though most of the public who view these pieces don't see the group effort that goes into completing them, this process is an important part of the story for Choi and Shine.

“For us, making art is as significant as the outcome, if not more so. It is a process of finding one’s own power to create while taking part in a change with our artwork that contributes to the beauty around us,” they share.

“In its making, we hope to share the power of making art—the power of telling the story in its quiet beauty, the experience of working with focus and rigor for a common goal, the experience of being the creator and sharing the memory of making every stitch with others—our collective journey for empowerment.”

The power of the creative journey will once again be on display this September when Choi + Shine reveals a reimagination of their popular URCHINS installation. Set to be displayed in Barcelona during Manifesta15, the pieces were realized during a three-week workshop that involved hundreds of crocheters working with 70 miles of marine cord.

Choi + Shine Architects are known for their elaborate lacework public installations.

“Arizona!” Scottsdale, Arizona, 2018

“The Power of One” Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Grand Studio, 2023

“Arizona!” Scottsdale, Arizona, 2018

The pieces are a marriage of modern structure and traditional lace patterns.

“The Trees” Stockwood Discovery Center, Luton, UK, 2022

“Arizona!” Scottsdale, Arizona, 2018

“The Lace” Amsterdam Light Festival, 2016 (Photo: Janus van den Eijnden, ©2016)

Around the world, the architects hold community workshops to help produce their public art.

Making of “The Trees”

Assembly of “The Power of One”

Making of “Arizona!”

“When we witness many different people from all walks of life, young and old, different languages and origins, come together, laugh together, and help each other, we understand the purpose of art.”

Making of “The Trees”

Making of “The Lace”

Choi + Shine Architects: Website | Instagram | Facebook

All images ©2016-2024 Choi+Shine Architects except where noted. My Modern Met granted permission to feature Choi + Shine Architects.

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READ: Architects Work With Global Crochet Communities To Create Giant Lacework Installations

Have you ever seen a house blow a bubble? Deep in the Japanese countryside, visitors to Murono Village discover an ancient wooden house blowing a luminous bubble. Ephemeral Bubble, the brainchild of MAD Architects’ Ma Yansong, was created for the 2024 Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (ETAT), one of the world’s largest international outdoor art festivals.

The semi-transparent installation extends from the 100-year-old China House Huayuan, a local hub of Chinese art and cultural exchange. It’s made of PVC film that filters and blurs the natural world outside its curves, creating an enclosed cocoon- or den-like experience for visitors. It is arguably most striking in the evening when it lights up with a soft, welcoming glow.

The ETAT festival launched in 2000, occurs every three years, and now permanently hosts more than 230 permanent works. The festival is rooted in Satoyama, the sustainable coexistence between human civilization and natural ecosystems. Similarly, MAD Architects states that it “endeavors to create a balance between humanity, the city, and the environment.” Aptly, the glowing bubble structure is intended to “open a dialogue” with the local countryside, according to MAD Architects, as it creatively merges the internal space of the traditional home with its natural surroundings.

MAD Architects views the temporary bulbous extension in Murono as ideal for communing with nature, reflecting spiritually, or holding gatherings and performances. The firm sees the interactive space as playful, as well. Yansong told Dezeen, “Picture our century-old house drifting off to sleep, gently blowing bubbles as it dreams.” This innovative team also made a noteworthy nature-centric contribution to ETAT in 2018 with Tunnel of Light.

One of ETAT’s goals is to honor and revitalize the Echigo-Tsumari region, known for rice cultivation, heavy snowfall in winter, and an aging population—and it has seen considerable success, so far. The festival has brought a wealth of new visitors, employment, and tourism revenue to the area.

When the sun sets and Ephemeral Bubble illuminates, it also resembles a lantern or light bulb, perhaps calling to curious travelers. (If this aesthetic appeals, you might also like the various large-scale electric bulb-themed works that pepper the annual Glow festival in Eindhoven, Netherlands.)

Ephemeral Bubble will be open to ETAT guests through November 2024.

In the Japanese countryside, MAD Architects’ Ephemeral Bubble appears like a giant bubble being blown out of the 100-year-old China House Huayuan.

Visitors can explore the peaceful, semi-transparent unwavering balloon.

MAD Architects created this ephemeral space for the 2024 Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (ETAT), one of the largest international outdoor art festivals.

At night, Ephemeral Bubble also glows within a neighborhood of traditional houses.

MAD Architects: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by MAD Architects.

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READ: 100-Year-Old House in Japanese Village Looks Like It’s Blowing a Bubble

The city of Seoul has long piqued the world's curiosity. From its ancient history to its modern-day technology, the South Korean capital boasts many facets of its culture and developments—all equally enthralling on their own. As a tribute to the city and a portal to all its charms, the PULSE: Beyond Delight exhibition opened in London, inviting visitors to step into carefully crafted digital art projections that will make them feel right in the heart of Seoul.

The exhibition features 13 immersive zones that marry traditional narratives with the bustling Seoul of today. “Myth, reality, tradition, and innovation intertwine, reinterpreting the energy and breath of Seoul through a sharper, more intellectual lens,” say the event's curators in a statement. Here, mythical creatures are neighbors to ultra-modern cityscapes, painting an intricate portrait of Seoul.

The floor-to-ceiling projections transform entire rooms and the props within. Aided by an expert use of sound and mirrors, visitors are drawn in as they explore installations inspired by Korean art, architecture, landscapes, and history. Together, they create a visual symphony that encapsulates the essence of Seoul. All of this happens in deceptively compact venues that, despite looking small from outside, hide many open rooms and staircases.

For those hoping to learn more about Seoul beyond the thrilling displays, visitors can check out the PULSE exhibition app, which offers behind-the-scenes information about each installation. They can also join an augmented reality treasure hunt, discovering hidden AR markers within the exhibition halls.

By mixing storytelling with innovation, PULSE: Beyond Delight inspires guests to dive into the bustling city of Seoul, even if just for a little while. The exhibition will be open through September 30 at the Borough Yards in London. You can learn more and find tickets on PULSE’s website.

An exhibition titled PULSE: Beyond Delight invites visitors to step into carefully crafted digital art projections that will make them feel right in the heart of Seoul.

The exhibition features 13 immersive zones that marry traditional narratives with the bustling city of Seoul today.

“Myth, reality, tradition, and innovation intertwine, reinterpreting the energy and breath of Seoul through a sharper, more intellectual lens,” say the event's curators.

Here, mythical creatures are neighbors to ultra-modern cityscapes, painting an intricate portrait of Seoul.

Aided by an expert use of sound and mirrors, visitors are drawn in as they explore installations inspired by Korean art, architecture, landscapes, and history.

By mixing storytelling with innovation, PULSE: Beyond Delight inspires guests to dive into the bustling city of Seoul, even if just for a little while.

The exhibition will be open through September 30, 2024 at the Borough Yards in London.

PULSE: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by PULSE.

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READ: Immersive Exhibition Brings the Distinct Energy of Seoul to the Heart of London

 

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Dominoes are one of the most easily entertaining games out there, but they can also be used as creative tools. Just ask artist Lily Hevesh, also known as Hevesh5. The YouTuber and domino artist creates large-scale installations with thousands of dominoes, often sharing the process on her YouTube channel. Once set, they come alive by being tumbled to the ground with one stroke, revealing patterns and images in each thrilling display.

In one of her most daring works to date, Hevesh and her team built an installation featuring 100,000 pieces at Washington's National Building Museum, where Hevesh is a domino artist-in-residence. The mammoth work was part of her Destination Domino event, which had its climatic moment on July 20, when hundreds of visitors gathered for the toppling.

The eight-minute event was captured on video by Washingtonian, including the moment two little kids push the first piece to topple the 50-square-foot tiled trail. Soon, a dozen patterns, including the Washington D.C. skyline, the Metro map, the Mona Lisa, and a flower-like structure came down in a matter of seconds—despite two hiccups that were quickly fixed by Hevesh's team.

One of the secrets to Hevesh's alluring installations lies in the dominoes themselves. Instead of using traditional black-and-white dominoes, Hevesh used her own brand of brightly colored tiles, called H5 Domino Creations, which help her create her signature bright works. “They come in all different colors, no dots, and we have a special surface texture so when they topple over they’re not gonna slide out like a lot of game dominoes will,” Hevesh explained to WTOP.

“It’s more than just a spectacle,” says Aileen Fuchs, the museum’s executive director. “It’s an invitation to explore, learn and be inspired by the limitless possibilities of domino art.” Through this event, Hevesh also broke the Guinness World Record for the tallest domino structure. The part of the installation that achieved this was a tower made of 10,442 dominoes that measured 10.128 meters tall (approximately 33 feet 3 inches).

You can watch the thrilling topple of Destination Domino below.

This is domino artist Lily Hevesh.

 

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Una publicación compartida por National Building Museum (@nationalbuildingmuseum)

She has made a name for herself with her visually exciting domino installations over the last decade.

Recently, she built an installation—part of her Destination Domino event—featuring 100,000 pieces at Washington's National Building Museum, where hundreds of visitors gathered for the toppling.

 

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A post shared by Lily Hevesh / Hevesh5 (@hevesh5)

Watch all the colorful dominoes topple over in 8 minutes:

Lily Hevesh: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

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READ: Watch 100,000 Dominoes Topple Over in This Mesmerizing Record-Breaking Installation

Artist Benjamin Von Wong has created yet another incredible installation to raise awareness about environmental issues. This time, he's used biochar to form a nearly 20-foot-tall phoenix in Thailand. Revealed on Earth Overshoot Day, August 1, Carbon Phoenix is intended to draw attention to the unique properties of biochar.

Biochar is a carbon-rich black solid, sometimes called man-made charcoal. It has incredible carbon removal properties and is responsible for over 89% of verified carbon removal credits. This intrigued Von Wong, who dreamed up an installation that would represent the average human's annual carbon footprint—four tons. Carbon Phoenix is a physical and tangible visualization created in conjunction with local bamboo farmers and biochar producers, Wong Phai.

A team came together to produce the impressive installation over the course of two weeks. All of the phoenix's feathers are made from biochar bricks, which are formed from pyrolyzed bamboo offcuts, a waste byproduct from the construction industry that would normally be open-burned or left to decompose into CO2.

“What I think is particularly unique about this installation, is that it doesn’t just highlight the problem. It also highlights a possible solution for climate change. The best part? Anyone can participate by purchasing verified carbon removal credits,” says Von Wong

Now, the phoenix stands in Ratchaburi as a symbol of what we can do to help combat carbon emissions. And, hopefully, it shines a light on biochar as a positive solution for carbon removal.

“With a climate solution like Biochar that desperately needs more adoption and awareness, I dream that this project catalyzes and inspires home artists and artisans to explore Biochar as a creative material.”

You can read more about the making of Carbon Phoenix on Von Wong's blog.

Carbon Phoenix is a nearly 20-foot-tall biochar sculpture by Benjamin Von Wong.

Biochar, sometimes called man-made coal, is responsible for 89% of verified carbon removal credits.

It took two weeks and a team of volunteers to bring this sustainable sculpture to life.

Check out this video detailing how Benjamin Von Wong created this biochar art.

Benjamin Von Wong: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Benjamin Von Wong.

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READ: 20-Foot Phoenix Made From Biochar Represents the Average Person’s Annual Carbon Footprint

 

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Even though famous painter Edward Hopper passed away in 1967,  New York’s Meatpacking District recently found a unique way to keep the artist alive. In late July, the district partnered with Whitney Museum of American Art to create an immersive four-day event entitled Step Into Hopper in honor of the artist's birthday. This event provided the public the chance to interact with three life-sized replicas of some of the painter's most famous pieces.

Edward Hopper was one of the most prominent figures in American Realism and is best known for his oil paintings of everyday scenes and people. A sense of melancholy or isolation is present in much of his work, and his depictions of empty and silent spaces have forever cemented him in American art history. A native New Yorker, Hopper often used New England as his creative backdrop.

For Step Into Hopper, three recreations of the artist's paintings were featured, including Soir Bleu, Early Sunday Morning, and Nighthawks, his most famous work. Local performers were hired to serve as the figures from the paintings, including a clown and a barista.

Visitors to the event were invited to pose with the performers and replicas and get their pictures taken, allowing them to interact and exist within an Edward Hopper painting. This provided many humorous selfie opportunities as everyday people took a step back in time to pose in a retro diner or with a crestfallen clown. The event organizers also tried to make each experience as realistic as possible, providing free coffee at the Nighthawks location and ensuring that Early Sunday Morning was away from the hustle and bustle of modern-day New York City, in order to capture the feeling of the original painting.

For New Yorkers interested in seeing the original pieces in person, they're in luck. Both Soir Bleu and Early Sunday Morning are currently hanging in the Whitney. But to see Nighthawks, they will have to take a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago.

In honor of Edward Hopper's 142nd birthday, New Yorkers recently had the opportunity to interact with three live replicas of his paintings in Manhattan.

 

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The Meatpacking District partnered with the Whitney Museum to bring Nighthawks, Soir Bleu, and Early Sunday Morning to life.

 

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A post shared by Meatpacking District (@meatpackingny)

Performers were hired to play the roles of the figures from the paintings, providing for some fantastic selfie opportunities.

 

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h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

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Photo: Sam Hockley

For many, denim is a wardrobe staple, but for London-based artist Ian Berry, it’s a creative medium. For the last two decades, Berry has used the navy blue fabric to create intricate installations, iconic portraits, and even photorealistic depictions of California. And his latest creation continues to reveal the unexpected and innovative ways denim can be used. Titled Secret Garden and currently on display at the Garden Museum in London, this work reimagines a serene setting with a fish pond, flowers, and vines—all crafted from recycled denim jeans.

The Secret Garden installation was first exhibited at the Children's Museum of the Arts in New York in 2017 and has since been displayed in various site-specific locations and galleries worldwide. Originally designed for a young audience, Berry aimed to inspire children to reflect on our interaction with nature.

“The idea came from thinking many kids don't have their own gardens and thinking of community gardens nestled away in between buildings and trying to inspire them to seek them out,” Berry tells My Modern Met. “It also gave the opportunity to talk about sustainability as well as helping young minds think about where things come from.” The artist even showed the kids a cotton plant to explain where jeans come from. “It was amazing to see so many baffled at the idea,” he recalls. “It enabled educators to talk about how the installation was plants turned to pants, then back to plants again.”

While the most recent Secret Garden installation isn't specifically designed for children, it still evokes a childlike sense of wonder. Visitors can walk through the denim garden path and find wisteria and vines dangling above them. Various plants and flowers are depicted in shades of indigo, including roses, alocasias, begonias, and cacti. There’s even a peaceful pond at the heart of the garden, featuring denim Koi fish, lily pads, and a central water feature. Every area of the garden showcases such an impressive level of detail that it's easy to forget the entire installation is handmade from denim.

The Secret Garden will be on display from July 13 to September 8, 2024, at the Garden Museum. A complementary program of activities and workshops inspired by the installation will be offered free of charge, catering to all ages. These include textile flower collages, denim rag rugs, clay and felt cacti making, and cyanotype printing.

Check out some photos of the Secret Garden installation below and find more of Berry's work on his website.

Artist Ian Berry's Secret Garden installation features plants, vines, flowers, and a koi fish pond handcrafted entirely from recycled denim.

Photo: Graham Lacdao

The immersive exhibition is currently on display at the Garden Museum in London.

Photo: Graham Lacdao

Photo: Graham Lacdao

It showcases the unexpected and innovative ways denim can be used.

Photo: Graham Lacdao

The installation explores themes of sustainability in the textile industries.

Photo: Graham Lacdao

Photo: Graham Lacdao

 

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Ian Berry: Website | Facebook | Instagram | X

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Ian Berry, Graham Lacdao, and Sam Hockley.

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Artist Emmanuelle Moureaux has unveiled a new permanent art installation in France. Situated in Paris' largest office building, it was conceived as a beam of light and colors that symbolizes the diversity of people and moments of life. Cascading down seven floors in the main atrium, TIMELINE is the 47th work in Moureaux's celebrated 100 colors series.

This prismatic piece is also the first permanent installation from the series in France. It’s formed from 3,200 numbers that are years stacked on top of themselves. The work begins at the bottom, in white, with what was then the current year—2023. From there, we zoom toward the future, with years expressed in 100 gradations representing the flow of time.

Anchored in a fixed position, this column of numbers and colors appears as a real light beam even when viewed from a distance.

“I want people to see colors not with their eyes, but feel colors with their entire body, their senses,” shares Moureaux. “I use colors as three-dimensional elements, like layers, in order to create spaces, not as a finishing touch applied to surfaces at the end of the creation process.”

Fittingly named Lumière, which means “light,” the building is the perfect setting for Moureaux's piece. The Tokyo-based artist is also an architect and was inspired by the space's clean, open interiors. The atrium's incredible glass roof sparked the idea to create this colorful beam of light.

Now that TIMELINE is installed, it can bring joy to the thousands of workers who pass through there each day.

TIMELINE is a new site-specific installation by Emmanuelle Moureaux in Paris' largest office building.

The cascade of colorful numbers starts with 2023 at the bottom and zooms to the ceiling with future years in 100 different hues.

The art installation is a symbolic beam of light that flows from the atrium's glass ceiling.

“I want people to see colors not with their eyes, but feel colors with their entire body, their senses.”

Watch Moureaux discuss her impressive new permanent installation.

Emmanuelle Moureaux: Website | Facebook | Instagram

All photos by Theo Baulig / Raphael Metivet. My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Emmanuelle Moureaux.

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Last year, artist Thomas Dambo spent 100 days traversing the United States and creating his signature troll sculptures along the way. The Danish artist has continued to expand his work in America and has just completed his most ambitious project ever with Alexa's Elixir. Located in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the exhibition takes people on a journey to solve a riddle and find a Golden Rabbit.

Along the way, they'll encounter some of Dambo's friendly trolls, who remind us to embrace nature and spread joy. Over 300 volunteers helped Dambo execute his vision, which not only included five trolls, but also three portals, 800 birdhouses, and a special book that contains a recipe for Alexa's Elixir and a map to the Golden Rabbit.

Based on a folktale written by the artist, the project pushes for the public to interact with the artwork. “The concept is that you have to help the troll called Alexa brew an elixir to basically help set the humans free from a curse that an evil golden rabbit has thrown on the humans,” Dambo explained to a local news outlet MPR. “And then you do that by helping her collect the five ingredients that she is brewing in her big pot.”

As people partake in Dambo's adventure, they are also brought closer to nature. The artist's sculptures, which are made from discarded materials, are a reminder to take care of and protect our environment.

The sculptures of Alexa's Elixir can be found on Dambo's Troll Map, which tracks his troll installations. The only thing that isn't marked is the elusive Golden Rabbit. To find that, you'll have to participate in the hunt.

With the help of 300 volunteers, Danish artist Thomas Dambo has recently finished his most ambitious exhibition ever.

Alexa's Elixir consists of numerous sculptures, including 5 large trolls and 800 birdhouses.

The public is brought along on Dambo's folktale and asked to help one of the trolls brew a potion.

Once they collect all the ingredients, they need to find the hidden Golden Rabbit.

Dambo's sculptures are a wonderful way to connect with the natural world.

Thomas Dambo: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Thomas Dambo.

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If you’re in the U.S., you’re either just coming out of or in the middle of a heat wave. Our increasingly hot summers can be devastating for our health, but at least we’re not made of wax. This past week, a Washington, D.C. sculpture of the nation’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, became another casualty of global warming.

In fact, poor Abe has suffered quite a bit this past year. The 6-foot-tall sculpture created by artist and University of Richmond assistant professor Sandy Williams IV has had to be taken in for reconstruction twice now.

Williams did intend for the Lincoln sculpture to melt, but only a bit. In September 2023, with over a 100 candle wicks in it, the artwork was prematurely lit by community members. The wicks were meant to be used, but only for a minute or two, and not every single one at once. Without any signage explaining the fact, passersby saw the sculpture, lit the wicks, and left without snuffing the flames out. This all happened before its official unveiling.

The sculpture was reinstalled this past February with only 10 wicks and signs making it clear to only to let flames burn briefly. The Lincoln sculpture was 3,000 pounds with a congealing point of 144°F, so it was expected to be safe for the immediate future. However, Washington, D.C.’s heat last weekend was too much for the Great Emancipator. First his head started leaning back, and social media users joked that maybe Honest Abe was having trouble coping with the current state of American politics. Then, one of his legs turned into a blob.

“I previously had joked that when our climate gets bad enough to where we are living in an environment where the ambient heat melts these sculptures, that’s when this work becomes an environmental artwork,” Williams admits. “I didn’t know that was going to be this summer.”

While the piece forebodingly became a commentary on climate change earlier than expected, the statue was always meant to be political. It was installed outside of Garrison Elementary School as part of Williams’ Wax Monument Series. Entitled 40 Acres: Camp Barker the piece commemorates the spot of a Civil War era refugee camp for formerly enslaved African Americans. Williams wanted to bring attention to the history of formerly enslaved folks during and after the Civil War, as the historical canon tends to skip this essential information.

In a phone call with Intelligencer‘s Matt Stieb, Williams stated, “I have no qualms with wherever people take it. I think that is what public artwork is about. That’s what I think [I] love most about public art. The thing that makes me most uncomfortable and the thing I love the most is that I never know what’s going to happen and it’s totally outside of my control.” It seems as though they can appreciate the memes that melting Abe has inspired.

The wax monument should be back on display, good as new, this week. However, they might want to invest in getting him an air conditioner.

Artist Sandy Williams IV created a wax statue of President Abraham Lincoln, which was installed outside of Garrison Elementary School in Washington, D.C.

 

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Unfortunately, the 6-foot-tall sculpture began to rapidly melt during a heatwave.

A heat wave hit the DMV area over the weekend, and one of the country's leaders paid the price. A wax sculpture of Abraham Lincoln began to melt from the temperatures and lost its head: https://t.co/DycXdkPgSM pic.twitter.com/d6LqeaRMOI

— Local 12/WKRC-TV (@Local12) June 25, 2024

Though it was created with the intention of melting, the rising temperatures in D.C. expedited expectations.

another look at the wax lincoln sculpture in dc that melted during the heat wave pic.twitter.com/Wq3v0GCvUD

— Spencer Allan Brooks (@SpencerSays) June 24, 2024

Needless to say, the “headless Lincoln” melting statue made national headlines…

…and gained some funny reactions.

This is a shame. No one can hold a candle to him.

— Ross Duckham (@RossDuckham) June 25, 2024

How your email finds me⬇️ https://t.co/RbG146Nb7W pic.twitter.com/jBvjn8M8FU

— Zack Brown (@ZackBrownDC) June 23, 2024

Even our monuments are exhausted by our politics.

— Grover One (@groversmith1) June 23, 2024

This perfectly sums up how things are going.

— StandUnited1776(Matthew) (@StandUnited76) June 25, 2024

pretty decent symbol of America at only 1.2°C of global heating https://t.co/3hASCMxSJ2

— Dr. Genevieve Guenther (@DoctorVive) June 24, 2024

Sandy Williams IV: Website | Instagram
h/t: [BBC News]

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READ: Abraham Lincoln Wax Statue Melts From Extreme Heat in Washington, D.C.