Blue Penetrable BBL

There are conventional sculptures that, God forbid, should ever be touched and that, although three dimensional, ensure an essentially static relationship between the object and the viewer.

A «penetrable,» on the other hand, is different. Although it is created and erected in full by the artist, it is not «whole» until the viewer purposefully «penetrates it» by occupying or walking through its space (and making contact with its signature dangling cords – cords that seduce the viewer into a playful exchange).
Indeed, Jesús Rafael Soto, a famed Venezuelan kinetic artist, who first created penetrable sculptures, sees each encounter between a penetrable and viewer as a highly conceptual moment where the blank slate of the artistic work is left to the interpretation of its audience (and to their immediate mental and physical sensations).
My own encounter with one of Soto’s penetrables, Blue Penetrable BBL, was an, admittedly, fascinating experience. At its most basic, walking through its rectangular frame (and touching the mass of seemingly infinite blue nylon cords suspended from it) was unlike anything that I (or most people) will likely have experienced before.

At a regular, unhurried pace (walking naturally), the sensation of the nylon cords hitting and brushing up against my face and body was utterly refreshing (particularly coming in on a hot day). The cool nylon felt almost like air or water. I had the vague sensation, at first, as if I were imprisoned in the sky and, then, as if I were swimming while standing up. Subsequent passes through the penetrable brought on entirely different experiences of being bathed in sensuous blue light, embraced by an alien sea anemone, or bitch slapped by a school of giant squid.
Blue Penetrable BBL is on exhibit at the Hirshhorn Museum until August 12^th. I recommend visiting and penetrating it. See how it feels for yourself.