Jesús Rafael Soto: Pénétrable BBL Jaune

Born in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela, Jesús Rafael Soto (1923–2005) was one of the pioneers of kinetic art, creating works that explore movement, space and tactility. Over a career spanning more than seventy years, Soto worked across drawing, painting, sculpture and installation, developing immersive environments that invite visitors to experience art physically and visually. Presented in Kensington Gardens, _Pénétrable BBL Jaune_ (1999; 2023 Edition) is part of Soto's celebrated _Pénétrable_ series. Measuring 10 metres long, the sculpture is made from 4,000 suspended yellow PVC tubes hanging from a steel framework. From a distance, the closely spaced strands seem to shimmer and shift due to a moiré effect. Visitors are invited to walk through the work, allowing their movement to activate and transform the space around them. Soto created his first _Pénétrable_ in 1967 and went on to produce more than seventy versions in different sizes and colours. This work is based on the original _Pénétrable BBL Jaune_ made in 1999 that was relaunched by the artist's estate in 2023 to mark the centenary of Soto's birth. For Soto, the viewer is always central to the artwork: the piece is completed through participation, movement and touch.