L’ÉCHO DES CHOSES

The interactive experience is a web-light sculpture and a ready-made. The work explores our relationship to light-images as a language of the twenty-first century. The light-image is both, a light as an electromagnetic radiation perceived by our eyes, but also a vector of possibilities that would have an impact on the reality. In a completely dark room stand a translucent prism with on the top, a computer screen facing inside the prism. The public write a word in the image search engine. The Images from the Web are dissolved into pure light. The translucent light of an image is refracted to the sides of the prism and is reflected on the white pedestal. It’s an immaterial presence; a luminous presence.

The aura’s colors change depending on the images showed on the screen. The people can see the abstract luminous presence or to look under the prism to see the image. The body of the public in the space will change the perception of the picture.

By using a recycled prism previously used at the Montreal Museum of Fine arts, the piece is also a comment on the materiality of art object opposite to that one that only exist in digital space such as Internet, Facebook or Instagram, virtual reality, augmented reality or online art exhibition.

Hundred year after the creation of La roue de bicyclette (1913) of Duchamps, it’s not the wheel mechanism who would fascinate Duchamps but the luminous screens who light up our faces on a quotidian basis.

Presentations:
– Live streaming exhibition with the students, Quebec (CA), 2018
– Centre culturel Henri-Lemieux, Montréal (CA), 2018

The project was created with the program «Une école accueille un artiste» and the organization École en réseau.

Light generated by the search for the word «neon»

L’Écho des choses, Montreal (CA), 2018. Photo : Manuel Chantre
L’Écho des choses, Montreal (CA), 2018. Photo : Manuel Chantre

Light generated by the search for the word «ocean»  

L’Écho des choses, Montreal (CA), 2018. Photo : Manuel Chantre

The aura’s colors generated by the search for the word «magenta»

L’Écho des choses, Montreal (CA), 2018. Photo : Manuel Chantre

Light generated by the search for the word «ocean»

L’Écho des choses, Montreal (CA), 2018. Photo : Manuel Chantre

The public look at the images by under or across the prism. Light generated by the search for the words «tulip Garden»

L’Écho des choses, Montreal (CA), 2018. Photo : Manuel Chantre
L’Écho des choses, Montreal (CA), 2018. Photo : Manuel Chantre

Technique: Computer screen, acrylic box, computer + keyboard, internet Wifi, two pedestal (24x24x36 cm, 2 x 2×3 feet)

Dimensions:  53 x 25,5 x 61cm  /  21 x 10 x 24inch

Crédits:
Concept, assembling, programming: Manuel Chantre
Programming collaboration: Sébastien Gravel
Video editing: Manuel Chantre
Model: Laura Gagnon

This project was made possible with the support and collaboration of École en Réseau, Esther Simard Saint-Pierre, Artiste à l’école, Isabelle Hardy, Josée Laprise, the students and the teachers involved in the project.