The Daily Journal — London is hosting an outdoor installation by Venezuelan kinetic artist Jesús Rafael Soto for the first time. Pénétrable BBL Jaune, a ten-meter-long work featuring 4,000 vinyl strands suspended from a steel structure, forms part of the Serpentine Galleries’ summer Art in the Park program, sponsored primarily by Britannia Financial Group. Visitors can experience the installation through October 25.
Soto created the work in 1999. His heirs reintroduced it in 2023 to mark the centenary of his birth. The program brings together contemporary art, architecture, and public activities at one of the British capital’s leading cultural institutions. It also features an exhibition dedicated to the Venezuelan artist’s portfolio.
Melanie de Herrera Velutini, who leads the artistic and cultural strategy at Britannia Financial Group and serves as director of ORBE Consultants, highlighted the importance of the presentation.
“For Britannia Financial Group and our family, it is an honor to help bring Master Jesús Soto’s work to London for its first-ever presentation in a single exhibition. We hope it will continue to inspire new generations from one of the world’s most important cultural venues,” she said.
She added:
“The sculpture encourages participation rather than observation, a principle Soto embraced throughout his life and one that reflects the way our family has always approached its responsibilities.”
Pénétrable BBL Jaune belongs to a series of more than 70 sculptures that Soto created in this style. Born in Venezuela, Soto became one of the most influential figures in 20th-century kinetic art. France awarded him the Order of Arts and Letters in 1968, and UNESCO honored him with the Picasso Medal in 1990 for strengthening cultural ties among nations through his artistic contributions.
For the first time, the artist’s heirs have also approved a special collection of children’s products inspired by his work. Commenting on the initiative, Herrera Velutini said:
“This unprecedented project will extend Jesús Soto’s legacy to a broader audience. His vision forever changed the relationship between art, space, and the viewer. This new way of experiencing his work confirms the enduring relevance of a universal artist whose creations continue to engage audiences more than two decades after his passing.”
The Art in the Park initiative, which aims to bring art beyond the gallery walls, will conclude in October with a finissage cocktail reception attended by special guests, according to a representative of Britannia Financial Group.
