A groundbreaking inflatable sculpture called POLYMETER by creative studio Plastique Fantastique has been installed on the shoreline of Dadaepo Beach for the Sea Art Festival 2025 in Busan, South Korea. The innovative artwork examines the complex relationship between material permanence and natural decay through a unique dual-layered inflatable installation that combines industrial and organic materials with vastly different lifespans.
The sculpture consists of two distinct membranes made from materials with contrasting temporal properties that create a powerful visual and conceptual dialogue. The outer shell is constructed from fossil-based polyurethane, a durable industrial material designed to withstand environmental conditions and represent long-lasting synthetic manufacturing. Inside this protective layer, a handcrafted membrane made from locally harvested kelp serves as an organic, time-sensitive counterpart that introduces natural elements into the synthetic structure.
As the installation remains exposed to environmental conditions along the Korean coastline, the inner kelp layer gradually reacts to changing heat and humidity levels in real time. This organic membrane may eventually disintegrate completely over the course of the exhibition, revealing the inherent vulnerability and transience of natural organic matter when enclosed within a synthetic protective shell. The deterioration process becomes part of the artwork itself, creating a dynamic piece that changes throughout its display period.
Through the stark material contrast between its two layers, POLYMETER reflects on the coexistence of two fundamentally different temporalities: the enduring nature of industrial materials and the ephemeral quality of organic substances. The work by Plastique Fantastique deliberately frames a critical dialogue between fossil-derived longevity and biological impermanence, acknowledging the ongoing tension between industrial production methods and natural ecological regeneration processes.
Strategically positioned at the interface between land and sea on Dadaepo Beach, POLYMETER engages directly with its coastal environmental setting to maximize its conceptual impact. The large-scale structure operates simultaneously as both a sculptural art form and an environmental marker, prompting viewers to reflect deeply on the complex entanglement of natural and artificial systems in an era of rapid climate change. The beachfront location allows the artwork to interact with tidal movements, salt air, and varying weather conditions that directly affect both layers of the installation in different ways.
