Client: Hermès

Location: Paris, France

Completion date: 2020

Project Team

Artist

Nicolas Guichard

Lab212

Artist

Béatrice Lartigue

Lab212

Developer

Jonathan Blanchet

Lab212

Engineer

Tobias Muthesius

Lab212

Engineer

Nicolas Nolibos

Musician

Chapelier Fou

Light Designer

Mathieu Cabanes

Sound Designer

Baptiste Pohoski

Naturalist Guide

Marc Namblard

Footage

Yannick Royo

Set Designer

Hervé Sauvage

Overview

An imaginary and minimalist landscape, revealing a feeling of luxuriant nature under the visitors’ path.

Vertical light beams shape the space.

By touching a light beam, the visitor widens it and releases a bird song just above him. He feels the warmth of the light on his skin, and the gentle sounds of nature surrounding him.

Once the bird sound ends, the beam narrows down, inviting the visitor to continue his exploration.

A strange fauna draws a landscape that is both abstract and exuberant.

Goals

Passifolia is a monumental and interactive artistic installation, commissioned by Hermès.

The piece is made of 16 interactive modules organically set up in space. The modules are each composed of an automated light, an ultra-directional speaker and a sensor system.

A gentle, immersive and evolutive melody are played by 12 ambient loudspeakers all around the space.

The musical composition for the piece is made-to-measure by the musician Chapelier Fou.

Hundred sounds of birds, squirrels, frogs, etc. recorded in the wild by naturalists are arranged by Chapelier Fou to create an ever-changing harmonious nature soundscape.

Process

Passifolia is a collective experience, made-to-mesure for La Gaîté Lyrique in Paris (concert room of 20x15m floor space and 10m high ceiling).

Additional Information

European Design Awards, Digital Installations, Bronze Award, Athens, GRC LumenPrize, 3D/Interactive Award, Short List, London, GBR