Jesús Soto's Pénétrable Makes History with Record Attendance at London's Serpentine Galleries

Isabela Herrera Velutini de Carmona, member of the board of directors at Britannia Financial Group, said during the closing reception that the sponsorship reflects a corporate commitment and vision that recognises the importance of art and culture in fostering development.

"As a representative of a financial group with Venezuelan roots, seeing the work of master artist Jesús Soto exhibited and celebrated in London is particularly meaningful and fills us with immense pride. At Britannia, we believe that being part of a community means contributing not only to its economy, but also supporting the institutions, people and ideas that enrich its culture," she said.

Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director of Serpentine, confirmed that the installation ranks among the most visited public sculptures in the history of Art in the Park, a programme designed to bring art beyond the walls of museums and galleries.

"The wonderful thing about Soto's Pénétrable is that it has no doors, which allows it to bring contemporary art closer to people who do not usually visit museums," he said. "It was wonderful to see children interacting with the work. We had as many as 4,000 visitors in a single day. It is historic."

The installation, consisting of approximately 4,000 yellow vinyl strands suspended from a ten-metre-long steel structure, allowed visitors to physically enter the artwork and experience its visual and spatial effects.

Born in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela, in 1923, Soto spent much of his career in Paris and became a leading figure in international kinetic art. His explorations of movement and perception transformed the relationship between artwork and viewer.

During the closing cocktail reception, Obrist thanked Melanie Nenning Herrera, Director of ORBE Consultants, for initiating the event, as well as Serpentine's dedicated team, Perrotin Gallery, Atelier Jesús Soto and Britannia Financial Group for its essential support.

"We are incredibly honoured to present this exhibition here and enormously grateful to Melanie Nenning and Britannia for this collaboration, which truly made it possible. At Serpentine, we strongly believe in art for everyone and in bringing art into outdoor spaces," he said.

"For us at Britannia, it has been a privilege to support an institution such as Serpentine Galleries in projects like this, which also celebrate the legacy of one of Venezuela's most important artists of the twentieth century. We hope this marks the beginning of a lasting partnership," said Isabela Herrera Velutini de Carmona.

Although the installation has just closed and no official announcement has been made, a possibility of a retrospective exhibition dedicated to Jesús Soto in London in the near future has not been ruled out.

SOURCE MP Publishing