Artist Statement

Exhibition. Forum des Images, May 16 – 21

Ugo Arsac is an ISEA2023 selected artist

Ugo Arsac will present the “immersive documentary” ENERGĒIA (2022), a project of 3D scans taken in the nuclear power plants of Chinon, Civaux and Iter, allowing us to envisage, in virtual reality, around ecological issues discussed by experts, to discover a reality that is generally hidden from us.

I try to show things without necessarily imposing my point of view on a subject, but by placing myself so that the public can form their own opinion. I recently had the chance to work with the Chroniques Création production platform to create Energēia. In Urbe (one of my major creations about the underground world [sewers and metro tunnels of Paris, ed.]) and Energēia are two infinite installations, with no time limit. The experience can last anywhere between 2 and 45 minutes, or even longer. Producing works using cutting-edge technologies also allows me to be in contact with many different skills, which I enjoy immensely, in terms of interactive development, sound creation, mapping, etc. Within my team, certain people contribute enormously and are an integral part of the artistic dimension of the project, like Antoine Boucherikha for the sound design, for example. Source: https://www.institutfrancais.com/en/magazine/interview/ugo-arsac-2023-resident-at-the-villa-albertine

• Ugo Arsac starts his studies at Beaux-Arts de Paris but it is at Arts-Décoratifs that he confirms his practice as a filmmaker producing his first movies. In 2015 Neuf Cordes (20 min), a movie inspired by the myth of Orpheus and shot between Italy and Ukrain. It has been presented at TFF33, Short Film Corner, RIFF, as well as other publics events as the exhibition ‘Orpheo’. In 2017, he directed the documentary Jouons À La Guerre (30 min), shot in Taiwan with a team of Reenacters playing scenes from major historical conflicts. The film was bought by Arte and won the Prix Émergences awarded by La Scam. In 2018 Ugo Arsac joined Le Fresnoy where he produced En Contrebas (50 min) a documentary portrait and a journey through the bowels of Paris’ undergrounds. During his staying at Le Fresnoy he also created In-Urbe, an interactive installation supported by La Scam, Centquatre and Edis. He has also taken part to exhibitions such as Panorama21 / 22 or 100% L’expo. https://newimages-hub.com/en/festival/guests/ugo-arsac