Jacob Hashimoto: Giant Arc

Jacob Hashimoto’s new installation at SFMOMA is the kind of spectacle that quietly takes over your senses. The Roberts Family Gallery is transformed by a floating canopy of more than 75,000 hand-built kites, each one crafted from bamboo and Japanese paper. The effect is immersive but never overwhelming—step inside and you’ll find yourself moving through a shifting landscape of color and shadow, with every angle offering a different perspective. Hashimoto’s work isn’t just about scale, though the sheer number of elements is staggering. It’s about the way he turns familiar materials into something otherworldly, inviting you to slow down and look up. This isn’t a show you breeze through on your way to something else. Give it time, and you’ll notice how the installation changes with the light, rewarding repeat visits and close attention.