“Fission, Fusion and Facets”, a new installation by Malaysian architect in the heart of KL city.
Credit: Jun Ong — Instagram
Kuala Lumpur-based architect and artist Jun Ong arranges a light installation in the heart of KL city. Their latest work named STAR/KL “Fission, Fusion, and Facets”. Under the project, six cities — Kuala Lumpur, Batu Pahat, Kuching, Ipoh, Melaka, and Butterworth. This project is under the Cultural Economy Development Agency’s (Cendana) annual “Art in the City” initiative.
“Fission, Fusion, and Facets”
STAR / KL is the next chapter of my 2015 work, STAR / BUTTERWORTH. It takes on a more decentralised starburst form, humanised through 111 temporary, free-standing fragments. In the past two months, we converted the raw concrete-steel extension of The GoDown into a workshop — where weld sparks, ideas and data were strewn around. Throughout the next four months, I have also curated a soundscape, lighting sequencing and a series of programming to extend the role of the artwork beyond a visual object, but also as an accelerator.
“THE PLATONIC BODIES”
Kepler once said the structure of the solar system was determined by the testing of the five Platonic Bodies — octahedron, icosahedron, dodecahedron, tetrahedron and cube. The nesting of these polyhedra ultimately suggests the orbital distances between planets.
Materialized through the Platonic Bodies, the (truncated) icosahedron, a polyhedron with 32 facets, becomes the point of origin for “Star” in the three-dimensional Euclidean space. Every star, both terrestrial and cosmic, has a core point that radiates geometry outward. Comprised of 111 individualistic “fragments” of steel, acrylic tubes and LED ropes, “Star” exists as a calculated “drawing in space.”
Credit: Jun Ong — Instagram
“HYPERSPACE”
“Star” exists as a wormhole for us to experience beyond our three-dimensional minds. It disrupts the existing architecture of its host, creating new realms of circulation and perception. The 111 pieces of “fragments” materialize intangible energies, patterns and sometimes override the logic of its host.
“THE CABINET OF LUMINOSITIES”
We converted an existing plywood cabinet on site into a wunderkammer of models, sketches, drawings and failed prototypes made during the creation of STAR / KL. Over the next few months, the humble cabinet will hold more objects and ideas born from the various workshops, collaborations and conversations forged around the artwork.
This subterranean installation art is waiting to pampering your eyes. Currently on display at The Godown KL in conjunction with Art In The City 2021 from 26 November 2021 until 26 March 2022. Stare it on in the evening for the best experience.
