Vincent Leroy’s Kinetic Sculpture Evokes a Cosmic Molecular Cloud in Seoul
Installed in front of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul, “Molecular Cloud” is a kinetic sculpture by French artist Vincent Leroy. The work draws inspiration from cosmic molecular formations, translating them into a floating, cloud-like structure suspended within the urban landscape. This piece is part of the “DDP Design & Art in Seoul” event, whose 2025 edition explores the theme of motion.
The installation consists of numerous large, identical spheres in a shiny pink color. These elements act as powerful reflective surfaces for their surroundings, dynamically capturing the sky, buildings, and passersby, creating a continuous visual interplay of light and form. The spheres move slowly and gracefully in relation to one another, generating fluid and ever-changing compositions. Their motion suggests an organic, breathing rhythm, achieved through a carefully calibrated balance of geometric structure and mechanical precision.
The artwork is set against the backdrop of the late Zaha Hadid‘s DDP design, creating a profound visual dialogue with the building’s flowing metallic architecture. The clear contrast between the static structure of the building and the moving sculpture highlights their different approaches to concepts of material, form, and reflection. Together, they produce a rich visual environment where light, shadow, and surface interact in a state of constant contrast and perpetual transformation.
The project was originally conceived by the artist in Paris and first premiered in California at the Coachella Festival in 2023. For its installation in Seoul, it was manufactured in Guangzhou and realized through close collaboration with a production agency based in Hong Kong, underscoring the project’s international scope. Through its innovative combination of reflective materials, kinetic engineering, and thoughtful spatial placement, Leroy’s “Molecular Cloud” explores the intersections and boundaries of sculpture, architecture, and the surrounding environment. Its slow, deliberate movements invite viewers to contemplation and to slow down the pace within the bustling city, encouraging an experience of space defined as much by stillness as by movement.
Through the “Molecular Cloud,” Vincent Leroy presents a holistic artistic experience that challenges the traditional sensory perception of space and motion. The work is not merely a kinetic sculpture but becomes a living element of the urban landscape, reflecting the city’s dynamism and interacting with it simultaneously, creating moments of reflection and wonder for visitors and passersby alike.
✦ Editorial Insight from ArchUp
This article provides an in-depth look at Vincent Leroy’s artwork “Molecular Cloud,” highlighting the aesthetic interaction between the kinetic sculpture and the modern architecture of the DDP in Seoul. The presentation relies heavily on a visual description of the work’s physical and kinetic properties, creating an immersive reading experience. However, one might note the absence of a deeper critical or analytical perspective that connects the work to global kinetic art trends or its historical context, which would have added an extra dimension to the piece. Nonetheless, the article remains a resounding success in conveying the poetic spirit of the work and its role in transforming urban space into a living work of art that challenges permanence and invites contemplation—the primary aim of contemporary public art.
Brought to you by the ArchUp Editorial Team
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