Radiant Nature contributes substantial new scholarship on the early work of Chilean artist Juan Downey (1940–93) through the exploration of works made between 1967 and 1975: interactive sculptures (1967–71); happenings and performances (1968–75); and the Life Cycle Installations (1970–71).

Key themes addressed here include the interaction between technology, aesthetics and the body as a means to forge more horizontal forms of participation and more ethical ways to interact with the environment.