MARIKO MORI : Radiance
Oct 31 - Dec 20, 2025
Sean Kelly, 475 10th Ave, New York, NY 10018
I just visited Mariko Mori’s latest exhibition. Back when I was a student, she was an absolute superstar. I remember her having a massive solo exhibition in Seoul, and she was constantly featured in Monthly Art (Wolgan Misul) magazine. She was the rising, yet already brilliant, icon of Japanese contemporary art.
It was so wonderful to see her name again at Sean Kelly Gallery in Chelsea. I recently read a blog post discussing why her activity seemed to quiet down after the 2000s, which I found to be quite an intriguing topic. I’m not sure if this is what people mean when they say sudden fame can be a double-edged sword, but this exhibition was certainly worth the visit.
Mariko Mori goes beyond traditional handmade sculpture; she creates "futuristic sculptures" using cutting-edge materials like aerospace-grade composites and dichroic glass that reflects ethereal light. Much like the word "Metaphysical" in the exhibition's introduction, she possesses an extraordinary ability to visualize invisible energy and spiritual worlds. She remains a globally beloved artist who flawlessly translates traditional Japanese concepts, such as Buddhism and Shinto, into ultra-modern designs.
Radiance 광채
몰입과 성찰의 리듬
“육체적인 면에 있어서는 분리되어 있다는 착각이 들지만, 그 너머를 들여다보면 모든 것은 연결되어 있습니다.” - 마리코 모리
이번 전시 《Radiance(광채)》는 조몬 시대(기원전 14,000~300년)와 야요이 시대(기원전 300~서기 300년)부터 고푼 시대(250~538년)와 아스카 시대(538~710년)에 이르기까지, 일본의 석기 문화에 대한 모리의 광범위한 연구에 뿌리를 두고 있습니다. 전설적인 오키노섬의 바위들과 이즈모 및 아와지의 신전들을 포함하여 일본 열도 전역의 신성한 지질학적 형성물들을 직접 답사하며 얻은 영감을 바탕으로, 모리는 이러한 선조들의 유적들을 현대적인 시각을 통해 조명합니다.
“There’s an illusion of separation when it comes to physicality, but if you look beyond that, everything is connected.” - Mariko Mori
Radiance is rooted in Mori’s extensive research into Japan’s stone cultures from the Jomon (14,000–300 BCE) and Yayoi (300 BCE–300 CE) periods through the Kofun (250–538 CE) and Asuka eras (538–710 CE). Informed by site visits to sacred geological formations across the Japanese archipelago, including the storied rocks of Okinoshima Island and the shrines of Izumo and Awaji, Mori focuses on these ancestral sites through a contemporary lens.
Original Text From Sean Kelly Gallery
"모든 것은 연결되어 있다"는 마리코 모리의 말처럼, 고대의 돌 문화와 최첨단 신소재가 하나로 어우러진 이번 전시는 시공간을 초월한 눈부신 '광채(Radiance)' 그 자체였어요. 조각을 전공한 저에게도 신소재가 뿜어내는 그 영롱한 빛의 변화와 조형적 완성도는 깊은 영감을 주기에 충분했어요. 단순히 시각적인 즐거움을 넘어, 보이지 않는 에너지와 영적인 세계를 현대적인 디자인으로 시각화해낸 거장의 내공을 다시 한번 실감할 수 있었구요. 사진으로는 다 담기지 않는 그 오묘한 빛의 움직임을 영상으로도 꼭 확인해 보시길 바랄게요. 감사합니다.
As Mariko Mori said, "Everything is connected." This exhibition was the embodiment of a dazzling "Radiance" that transcends time and space, where ancient stone cultures and cutting-edge materials seamlessly merge into one. As a sculpture major, the ethereal shifts in light and the formal perfection achieved through these innovative materials provided me with profound inspiration. It went far beyond mere visual pleasure; I could truly feel the mastery of an artist capable of visualizing invisible energy and spiritual worlds through ultra-modern design. Since photos alone cannot fully capture the subtle, mysterious movements of light, I highly recommend watching the video I’ve included. Thank you.