LAND OF OUSSS [KANGSE]
At LUMA Arles, South Korean artist Koo Jeong A showcases the inaugural solo exhibition in France: Land of Ousss [KANGSE]. A multisensory, poetic exploration of unseen forces—gravity, scent, light, and voids—the exhibition invites visitors to reconnect with the intangible. Spread across two levels of Frank Gehry’s twisting tower, it dissolves the boundary between architecture and imagination through glowing sculptures, phosphorescent paintings, and scent-and-levitation installations.
Six large Möbius sculptures crafted in solid Dinesen Oak are part of the experience. These sculptural forms, inspired by the Möbius strip’s infinite geometry, act as both spatial interventions and philosophical symbols. Each ring—a looped wooden form with a single surface and edge—represents unity, continuity, and the merging of dualities.
Two rings were originally created for Odorama Cities, Koo’s contribution to the 2024 Venice Biennale, while four were produced specifically for Arles. Measuring between 1.5 and 2.5 metres in diameter, the rings vary in shape, thickness, and the number of twists. Whether square or rectangular, each piece is uniquely expressive—formed from carefully selected oak, planed and laminated under high pressure, then sculpted with precision using five-axis CNC technology. Assembled in four parts, each ring is hand-finished and treated with varying degrees of white-pigmented oil, with one left completely untreated to honour the raw essence of the wood.
Dinesen has a legacy of crafting wooden elements for sacred and cultural spaces and has long collaborated with artists and architects working at the intersection of material and meaning. Brand Director and fifth-generation, Hans Peter Dinesen, reflects:
“We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Koo Jeong A, building on works created for the Venice Biennale. The pieces are highly intricate—bordering on the impossible from a craftsmanship perspective—and we are honoured that our oak has been used to shape Koo’s creations.”
The exhibition’s title, “OUSSS,” is an invented word that becomes a fluid realm of sound, matter, and perception. In this context, the Möbius rings serve as objects and portals—anchoring unseen energies in form and drawing the viewer into a deeper, quieter awareness. Land of Ousss [KANGSE] ultimately reminds us that art can create moments of levity and reflection, where reality softens, and the material world expands into something more.
Visit the exhibition at LUMA Arles in The Tower from 5 July 2025 to 4 January 2026.
Photo cedit:
KOO JEONG A, LAND OF OUSSS [KANGSE], 2025 - 2026, The Tower, Drum, Level 0, LUMA Arles, France.[PALINDROME], 2025, oak wood, oil.
© Victor&Simon - Grégoire d’AblonProgrammation