metal pipe grid transforms personal rituals of control into participatory playground

what does it take to feel secure? south korean sculptor won ji lim transforms personal rituals of counting, checking, and seeking balance into participatory sculptural environment.

Won Ji Lim edited by christina vergopoulou October 23, 2026 4 min

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Interactive playground by WON JI LIM EXPLORES rituals of control

Created by Chicago-based South Korean artist Won Ji Lim, Shifting Center (2026–ongoing) is a participatory sculptural installation that translates personal rituals of control, such as counting, checking, and aligning objects, into a physical, interactive environment. Measuring approximately 9 × 9 × 6 feet, the modular structure is constructed from metal pipes and connectors, forming a framework reminiscent of a playground jungle gym. The installation integrates suspended objects, woven membranes, transparent pockets, balancing mechanisms, and a series of rule-based activities that visitors can physically enter and navigate.

metal pipe grid transforms personal rituals of control into participatory playground - 1 — Shifting Center is a participatory sculptural environment in which movable structures, suspended materials, and personal rules form an evolving system of order and adjustment | all images ©Won Ji Lim

The artwork is a self-contained system, open to physical additions

The project by artist Won Ji Lim pairs structural framework with unstable or organic materials. Hog casing is tightly woven across sections of the metal frame, undergoing physical shifts as it stretches and dries over time to demonstrate the limits of fixed structural order. A suspended plumb bob set within a hand-woven square visualizes the process of seeking physical balance, while transparent pockets hold archived written thoughts that are photographed and re-integrated into the system to document the installation’s ongoing assembly. Additional interactive components include a converted baseball rebounder with a target graphic, numbered tags, and colored beads. Designed to be reconfigured over time, the modular installation functions as an evolving system where visitor movements continuously alter the spatial dynamics.

metal pipe grid transforms personal rituals of control into participatory playground - 2 — visitors enter the framework and interact with its activities, introducing unpredictable decisions into a system initially organized by the artist

metal pipe grid transforms personal rituals of control into participatory playground - 3 — a participant moves within the installation, where personal rituals become shared activities, and the framework is experienced through bodily negotiation

won-ji-lim-participatory-playground-shifting-center-designboom-1800-2 — a system of numbered tags and colored beads translates personal rituals of counting, memorizing, and checking into physical actions within the installation

metal pipe grid transforms personal rituals of control into participatory playground - 4 — handwritten notes and diagrams document the artist’s attempts to construct rules, organize everyday behaviors, and negotiate uncertainty

metal pipe grid transforms personal rituals of control into participatory playground - 5 — weaving with hog casing exposes the material’s uncontrollable changes, while a baseball rebounder invites visitors to throw balls at a physical image of anxiety

won-ji-lim-participatory-playground-shifting-center-designboom-1800-3 — transparent pockets hold recurring thoughts and written records. Repetition becomes visible as individual entries accumulate within an organized system

metal pipe grid transforms personal rituals of control into participatory playground - 6 — the process of archiving written sentences is photographed, and the images are placed back into the same pockets, creating an archive of the act of archiving

metal pipe grid transforms personal rituals of control into participatory playground - 7 — a plumb bob hangs within a hand-woven square, visualizing the search for balance. Reaching the center brings a fleeting sense of relief and stability

metal pipe grid transforms personal rituals of control into participatory playground - 8 — a staircase within the jungle gym invites visitors to explore the installation from different heights and angles, offering new perspectives on its structure

won-ji-lim-participatory-playground-shifting-center-designboom-1800-1 — Shifting Center’s layout encourages visitors to navigate through suspended objects and spatial obstacles

project info:

name: Shifting Center, 2026

artist: Won Ji Lim | @zeal.ji_

dimensions: 9 × 9 × 6 ft
materials: mixed media

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