[ISEA2017] Artists Statement: Mathieu Argaud & Félicie d’Estienne d’Orvese — Light Standard

Artists Statement

The Light Standard Series reintroduces the idea of cosmic time linked to natural cycles as a reference system. Each standard corresponds to an object of the solar system and matches the time that light takes to reach the earth from each one of these objects. Hence roughly 8mn for the Sun, 2 to 15 mn for Venus, 3 to 22 mn for Mars, 4hrs to 4h30 for Neptune…

The variable amplitude of each Light Standard follows in real-time the distance between us and each planet of the solar system. On the length of one meter, the light of this benchmark reproduces this duration which evolves over the year, while following the true position of the planets, as given by the NASA predictions.

The constant oscilliations of each Light standard – scheduled until the year 3000 – seem to free themselves from a fragmented metric time scale, changing instant thinking into long-term perception.

Steel, led, electronic, programming, 113 x 4 x 25 cm

Production
Bipolar, Mathieu Argaud
With the support of la Maison Populaire de Montreuil

Collaboration
Fabio Acero, Ph.D. in Astrophysics (laboratoire AIM / CNRS)
Roman Chandler-Fry (Ledbox), Nicolas Misretta, electronics, programmation
Alexandre Saunier, LED programmer
Hugo Vidil, assistant
Atelier Delarasse, metal

Diffusion
La Maison Populaire, Montreuil
Variation, Paris

  • Félicie d’Estienne d’Orves born in Athens, Greece in 1979; lives and works in Paris, France. The work of Félicie d’Estienne d’Orves combines light, sculpture and new technologies. Her research focuses on vision, its processes and conditioning. Her immersive installations use a phenomenological approach to reality, they underscore the perception of time as a continuum. Since 2014, the artist’ researches focused on space in relation to astrophysics and to study the natural light cycles. Her work has been shown at the Centre Pompidou – Nuit Blanche (Paris) – New Art Space / Sonic Acts (Amsterdam) – Watermans Arts Center (London) – Elektra Festival / BIAN (Montreal) – Maison des Arts of Créteil (Créteil/FR) – Le Centquatre / Nemo International Biennial of Digital Arts (Paris) – OCAT (Shanghai) – ICAS (Dresden) – Aram Art Museum (Goyang /KR). http://www.feliciedestiennedorves.com
  • Mathieu Argaud (FR) directs the Bipolar agency which produces works at the intersection of arts, science and technology, shedding particular light on the ecological emergency with the artists. https://www.capsurlerhone.fr/portrait/mathieu-argaud