“TransMatter” is the central concept in the work of artist and electroacoustic music composer Yunchul Kim. The transformative dynamics of matter—both in natural and artificial contexts—are explored by Kim in machines and fantastical pieces that resemble luminescent beings from an abyssal world. For a machine to fulfill a function, it must take a specific form and be made from particular materials. Kim’s inventions are imbued with highly aesthetic attributes, materialized through the fusion of mathematics, science, philosophy, poetry, and cosmology.
The title of the “living sculpture” Dust of Suns II references a poem by French writer Raymond Roussel. The solution developed by the artist, derived from mineral stones, displays kaleidoscopic colors visible only through the special lenses of the installation. The piece is connected to intricate devices that regulate the wavelength and intensity of light according to the density of the liquid. Once hidden in the darkness of the underground, the stones are transformed into light within the exhibition space.
Leo Felipe
Yunchul Kim (South Korea, 1970) is an artist and researcher known for his kinetic installations that explore the intersection of science, mythology, and art. His transdisciplinary practice examines the interactions between the material world and invisible forces, often using light, subatomic particles, and fluids. Kim represented South Korea at the 2022 Venice Biennale. He has also exhibited his work at several renowned institutions, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul and the Asian Culture Center in Gwangju. He lives in Seoul, South Korea.
