miguel chevalier immerses visitors to K11 in the origin of the world

miguel chevalier immerses visitors to K11 in the origin of the world
all images courtesy of miguel chevalier

french artist miguel chevalier exhibits ‘the origin of the world’ within an elliptic space at K11 art foundation in shanghai, containing visitors to the expansive virtual-reality installation within an immersive environment. informed by the world of biology, microorganisms and cellular automata, the digital projection is cast onto a towering curved wall, wrapping around entrants and enveloping them in organic visuals.

motifs of cells multiply in abundance, divide, and merge in both slow and rapid rhythms, coming together, tearing apart, and changing shape as the viewer moves. when a participant wanders around the vast space, the trajectory of the cells is disrupted. the black-and-white megapixel tableaux gradually gives way to vivid, color-saturated spirals that execute choreographic movements to the music of jacopo baboni schilingi. chevalier describes, ‘this is a new kind of ‘technological baroque’ art that gives form to the formless while perpetually replenishing itself.’ ‘the origin of the world’ is presented until august 31, 2014 as part of the the exhibition ‘metamorphosis of the virtual 5 + 5’.

black-and-white visuals stretch throughout the space

motifs of cells multiply in abundance, divide, and merge in both slow and rapid rhythms

when a participant wanders around the vast space, the trajectory of the cells is disrupted

saturated spirals execute choreographic movements on the curved wall

a visitor interacts with the piece at the K11 art foundation

the graphics are informed by the world of biology

the virtual installation wraps around the viewer

monochrome cell-like figures move around the space

colored pixels

with the digital expanse

project credits:

the origin of the world 2014, miguel chevalier
music: jacopo baboni schilingi
generative and interactive virtual-reality installation
exhibition: ‘metamorphosis of the virtual 5 + 5, digital art today, paris-shanghai’,
K11 art foundation, shanghai (china) until august 31, 2014
elliptic projection: 38 m x 3 m
softwares: cyrille henry and antoine villeret
technical production: voxels productions

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