Kimsooja developed this elegant and towering conical sculpture in collaboration with scientists at Cornell University. The nanopolymer in which its panels are covered enhances the refractive qualities of light, giving an iridescent effect similar to that which occurs naturally on the wings of a butterfly or a beetle’s shell. It is responsive to changing light conditions and brought to life by sunlight on its surface.

A mirrored floor inside the structure makes it appear simultaneously to extend deep into the earth as well as souring into the sky, making the work feel very dynamic, as though it harnesses and channels the energy around it. The work is a reflection on our human bodies standing still in the present moment, and our relationship to the wider universe beyond, extending into time and space.