Iridescent Arc Encompasses Seoul’s Skyline in a Breathtaking Showcase of Mist and Illumination
Situated alongside the Han River in Seoul, South Korea, is an installation that appears almost otherworldly: it exhales mist, its surface remains unmarked and does not reflect any images, and it glimmers softly as the sun sets. The piece in question is James Tapscott’s Arc ZERO: Eclipse, the artist’s newest work in his Arc ZERO collection.
Similar to much of Tapscott’s oeuvre, Arc ZERO: Eclipse explores the sublime, interpreted through natural events. This installation manifests as a half-circle that releases gentle clouds of mist and light into the atmosphere, reminiscent of a halo that subtly transforms as the day progresses. To heighten its otherworldly quality, Arc ZERO: Eclipse is situated in a specially designed infinity pool, appearing to hover above the lively city while framing a distant bridge. The water below further enhances the illusion, its reflective surface echoing the installation’s curved design and forming the semblance of a colossal, closed loop.
Notably, Arc ZERO: Eclipse employs minimal technological means to realize its visual aims. The ring itself is made from a tailored diamond profile, which, while incredibly challenging to produce, generates an “effect where the viewer is seldom reflected on its surface,” allowing the immersive experience to persist without the disruption of “one’s own reflection,” Tapscott clarifies. Additionally, the installation directly engages with natural and elemental materials rather than “replicating [them] with technology,” the artist notes.
Previous versions of Arc ZERO have been featured globally, including locations in Denmark, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Japan. In 2023, Tapscott introduced a rendition of Arc ZERO: Eclipse in Lake Tyrell, a shallow, salt-encrusted basin in Australia. Gently brushing the water’s clear surface, the artwork appears to extend infinitely into the distance, evoking the image of a celestial object suspended in the night sky. Another version, permanently situated in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, also received the 2023 CODA award for landscape art, underscoring the project’s surreal yet deeply moving nature.
“As a designer, my goal is to harness the same appreciation for natural materials to craft objects of unadulterated beauty and adaptable functionality,” Tapscott states regarding his work. “The forms are deliberately straightforward, highlighting the intrinsic beauty of the materials while enabling the pieces to [enhance] the aesthetic of nearly any architectural environment.”
To discover more about the artist, check out James Tapscott’s website.
James Tapscott’s latest version of Arc ZERO: Eclipse has debuted in Seoul, South Korea. Arc ZERO: Eclipse takes the shape of a half-circle that scatters gentle clouds of mist and light into the atmosphere, and the water beneath it completes the circular form with its reflective surface.