At Desert X 2025 in California’s Coachella Valley, Korean artist Kimsooja presents To Breathe – Coachella Valley, an installation that transforms a glass structure into a shimmering, iridescent experience of light, movement, and space. 

Material Innovation: Diffraction Film as a “Transparent Textile”

At the heart of To Breathe lies a material of particular interest to designers: diffraction film. This ultra-thin, light-responsive material covers the glass installation, transforming it into a dynamic surface that captures and refracts sunlight into a full spectrum of shifting colours. Depending on the angle of the sun and the viewer’s position, the surface reveals hues of vivid pinks, deep blues, or luminous greens.

Kimsooja likens the diffraction film to a textile, describing it as a “transparent fabric” featuring thousands of microscopic lines that resemble the warp and weft of woven cloth. This innovative use of material blurs the boundary between structure and surface, suggesting new possibilities for designers seeking to integrate light modulation, transparency, and sensory engagement into their work.

The concept of the installation as a “bottari of light”—a reference to the traditional Korean practice of wrapping belongings in fabric bundles—offers a poetic dimension. It encourages designers to think of materials not just for their physical properties, but also for their cultural, symbolic, and emotional potential in shaping space and experience.

Spatial Design: Light, Movement, and Contemplation

To Breathe unfolds as a spiralling, seashell-like pathway, inviting visitors to walk through a contained yet open space that plays with light and perception. The form evokes natural patterns, such as the Fibonacci sequence, and creates a contemplative journey for viewers as they interact with the ever-changing spectrum of colour.

This approach resonates with principles of biophilic design, where natural patterns, light, and material textures are used to enhance well-being. The integration of ephemeral light effects into the built environment offers inspiration for designers working in public spaces, installations, or temporary pavilions, where the interplay of light and material can become an integral part of the experience.

Materiality of Light

The use of lightweight, low-impact materials like diffraction film minimises the environmental footprint, while the emphasis on light as a primary medium suggests alternatives to more resource-intensive building materials.

Furthermore, the installation’s dialogue with Kimsooja’s earlier work in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, connects different landscapes and cultures through the universal element of light—reminding designers of the value of contextual and cultural sensitivity in their projects.

Inspiration for Designers

Kimsooja’s To Breathe – Coachella Valley demonstrates how material experimentation, cultural storytelling, and sensory design can come together to create spaces that are both visually striking and emotionally resonant. For designers seeking innovative approaches to façade design, interior surfaces, or landscape features, diffraction film offers a compelling material that bridges aesthetics, sustainability, and spatial experience.

Source: Desert X / My Modern Met
Photos: Lance Gerber