In the hands of Malaysian artist Jun Ong, light is no longer a passive illuminator—it becomes an active force that fractures, bends, and reshapes architectural spaces. His ongoing Stars series, a collection of site-specific LED installations, transforms rigid environments into radiant spectacles. Whether embedded in brutalist interiors or ancient temples, these geometric bursts of light create an uncanny dialogue between the ephemeral and the monolithic, the ethereal and the industrial.

HALO: A Celestial Presence in a Historic Temple

Ong’s latest installation, HALO, materializes within the Xiu De Bai Pavilion, a former Buddhist temple in Tainan, Taiwan. Built in 1919 with historical roots tracing back to the Qing dynasty, the temple carries deep spiritual significance. Here, Ong embeds his luminous structure within the aged stone and concrete, forcing a collision between past and present. The light pulses through the rigid architecture as though the building itself is breathing, whispering its long-held stories to the present.

Light in Buddhism is an important metaphor for enlightenment—the awakening or the understanding of truth.

– States the YueJin Art Museum.

Ong’s HALO channels this ancient philosophy, manifesting as a geometric aura that radiates both physical and symbolic illumination. His glowing interventions do not merely occupy space; they transform it.

Architectural Alchemy: From Penang to Kuala Lumpur

The origins of HALO can be traced back to STAR/BUTTERWORTH, a 2015 installation in Penang, Malaysia. Inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic designs and M.C. Escher’s optical illusions, Ong used tensile steel cables and LED strips to create a dazzling explosion of light bursting from an unassuming structure. The piece read like a digital glitch made physical, as if reality itself had momentarily fractured.

A later iteration, STAR/KL (2022), reimagined the concept within a brutalist interior in Kuala Lumpur, where the stark geometry of the space interacted with the LED beams in a hypnotic dance of shadow and illumination. The adaptability of the Stars series—able to morph into vastly different cultural and spatial contexts—underscores Ong’s vision of light as both a universal and deeply personal experience.

The Stars Series: Expanding Beyond the Urban Landscape

Ong envisions his Stars installations emerging across varied terrains—urban, industrial, and even natural. I hope that the Stars series continues to emerge across different cities and cultures and possibly also in interesting terrains, like caves, the desert, or even forests, he says. Such expansions would push the conversation between artificial light and organic environments into new realms, further blurring the line between human-made and cosmic forces.

For now, HALO remains an awe-inspiring testament to the power of light as a sculptural medium. In Ong’s universe, beams of LED are not mere embellishments—they are disruptions, revelations, and, ultimately, portals to a deeper understanding of space, history, and perception.

Transforming the Art of Visuals

Jun Ong’s Stars series represents an exciting evolution in the field of conceptual art, where light becomes the medium through which the artist engages with space and time. Ong’s work is a striking example of how the art of visuals can transcend traditional boundaries, inviting viewers to experience a deeper connection between the physical world and the metaphysical, between the present and the past. His LED installations are far from simple illuminations; they are layered, immersive experiences that challenge our perception of space and history.

In Ong’s light-filled works, the boundaries between sculpture, architecture, and the natural world fade into brilliance, leaving viewers with an evocative sense of wonder and introspection. The future of conceptual art, driven by the transformative possibilities of light, looks incredibly bright.

The Future of the Stars

Ong envisions his Stars installations emerging across varied terrains—urban, industrial, and even natural.

I hope that the Stars series continues to emerge across different cities and cultures and possibly also in interesting terrains, like caves, the desert, or even forests.

– He says.

Such expansions would push the conversation between artificial light and organic environments into new realms, further blurring the line between human-made and cosmic forces.

For now, HALO remains an awe-inspiring testament to the power of light as a sculptural medium. In Ong’s universe, beams of LED are not mere embellishments—they are disruptions, revelations, and, ultimately, portals to a deeper understanding of space, history, and perception.

 For now, HALO remains an awe-inspiring testament to the power of light as a sculptural medium. In Ong’s universe, beams of LED are not mere embellishments—they are disruptions, revelations, and, ultimately, portals to a deeper understanding of space, history, and perception.