Arc ZERO: Eclipse

An iteration of James Tapscott’s iconic Arc ZERO: Eclipse has been unveiled in Seoul. This profoundly elegant work uses mist and light to create a true experience of the sublime, yet with materials familiar to our everyday lives. Like much of Tapscott’s work it is designed to examine our relationship with nature and provide a moment of pure coexistence. For this reason, the artist’s preference is almost always to use natural, elemental materials directly, as opposed to emulating them with technology, creating pointedly simple pieces that produce multi-sensory, immersive experiences.

Eclipse represents an evolution of the original Arc ZERO work, installed in Japan in 2017, known as “Nimbus”. While the Nimbus works are more architectural and immersive (usually wrapping the ring form around a bridge), the Eclipse explores a more visual experience of space, water and light.

The half ring sits directly in a body of water – in this case a custom-built infinity reflecting pool, with the circular form completed by its own reflection. In darkness this ring appears to float impossibly in space, ignoring gravity and its own horizon while emanating ghostly flames in all directions. In controlled environments, such as the various temporary installations completed over the years, the central darkness of the ring is almost solid – a shadow in space. This version is more open, to frame the iconic bridge beyond.

The form of the ring itself in this instance is a bespoke diamond profile, which while being exceedingly difficult to fabricate, creates a visual effect where the viewer is rarely seen reflected on the surface, so the immersion in the work isn’t broken by one’s own reflection.

For this new mixed-use development in Godeok (a rapidly growing area to the southeast of Seoul) the rooftop garden was designed to provide a relaxing space for the public and residents of the building. The corner space was earmarked as the perfect location for the work, not only to frame the view of the river and bridge, but to be seen from some distance away – the unique movement and textural quality of the illuminated mist has a striking presence even when viewed from the window of a car driving along the nearby freeway.

Previous versions of Arc ZERO have been installed all around the world, with another permanent version in Kaohsiung, Taiwan winning the 2023 CODA award for landscape art.