On June 7th, Serpentine Galleries opened its 23rd annual pavilion, Archipelagic Void, designed by Minsuk Cho, the founder of Seoul-based architecture firm Mass Studies. Inspired by the concept of Madang, or traditional Korean courtyard, Cho’s design features a central area surrounded by five distinct structures termed “islands.” These areas will serve different functions by providing platforms for Serpentine’s live programs this summer.
The pavilion’s main gallery will feature a six-channel sound installation by Jang Young-Gyu, capturing the seasonal changes of the local landscape. Adjacent to the main gallery is the Auditorium, the largest of the islands, which is designed for live performances and public talks. Nearby, The Library of Unread Books, a project by artist Heman Chong and archivist Renée Staal, offers a collection of books donated by the public, fostering a shared community space for learning and discovery. It also features an artwork by Chong, selected by director Hans Ulrich Obrist.
The tallest of the five islands is the Play Tower, a wooden structure fitted with orange netting designed for interactive play. The final island, the Tea House, pays homage to the Serpentine Galleries’ origins as a teahouse, a role it served until the 1960s.
Previous designers of the Serpentine Pavilion include Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh in 2023 and American artist Theaster Gates in 2022.
