Every summer, Serpentine Gallery launches a new season of impressive outdoor art and architecture to explore – and this year is no different. 2026’s programme has kicked off with the unveiling of a new interactive public sculpture. The installation is made up of long yellow strands that you can walk or run through. Maybe even play in.
The sculpture, titled ‘Pénétrable BBL Jaune’, now stands outside Serpentine South in Kensington Gardens. Created by Venezuelan artist Jesús Rafael Soto, the kinetic (aka moving) installation marks the first time his work has been shown outdoors in the UK. It reflects his long-standing interest in kinetic art – that is, artworks that move or create the illusion of movement.
Soto’s striking yellow installation stretches 10 metres long and is made up of 4,000 identical PVC tubes suspended from a steel frame. Visitors are encouraged to step inside, weaving through the hanging strands and brushing past them.
The work is part of Soto’s long-running Pénétrable series, which is all about how the viewer interacts with sculptures. As one of the leading representatives of the kinetic art movement, Soto made his first Pénétrable in 1967 and has gone on to create more than 70.
Here’s what Soto’s new installation looks like at Serpentine South.
The sculpture launches Serpentine’s 2026 summer programme, which will feature a range of art, architecture, talks and events. This year, the annual Serpentine Pavilion has been designed by Mexico City-based architecture studio LANZA atelier. The structure is inspired by an English architecture feature known as a ‘serpentine’ or ‘crinkle-crankle’ wall, which is typically a wavy wall made from brick.
Other highlights at the Serpentine this summer include Italian artist Giuseppe Penone’s striking ‘Albero Folgorato’ artwork and David Hockney’s large-scale piece ‘A Year in Normandie’, which has been on display at Serpentine North since March.
Jesús Rafael Soto, ‘Pénétrable BBL Jaune’ June 16 – October 25 2026, Serpentine South, Kensington Gardens, W2 3XA.
???? The best free art in London.
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