1/4
Go underground with Julian Charrière, who brings the sounds of the ocean to chalk cellars in Reims
The article details Julian Charrière's sound and light installation, 'Chorals,' situated in Ruinart’s ancient chalk cellars in Reims, France. These cellars, known as _crayères_, are historically significant, having been formed from ancient marine sediment millions of years ago when the region was submerged under the sea. Charrière's work for Ruinart aims to bridge environmental science and culture by highlighting the impact of global warming and the deep history of the earth.
Charrière, a Franco-Swiss, Berlin-based artist, emphasizes the intimate connection between culture and ecology, asserting that human constructs like memory and myth are not separate from the material world. He views the _crayères_ as a perfect embodiment of this entanglement, as they are man-made voids carved into what was once a seabed, composed of compressed marine life over geological eras. By reintroducing oceanic soundscapes into these spaces, 'Chorals' creates an 'acoustic haunting' that collapses time, allowing the memory of the sea to resonate within a place usually associated with silence.
The artist conducted extensive research for the project, including learning to dive to study underwater environments firsthand and record their sounds. These recordings capture the diverse acoustic world of marine ecosystems, including the sounds of fish, coral, and currents. He also incorporated recordings provided by marine biologists globally. These underwater sounds are synchronized with a wave machine within the _crayères_ that creates ripples in a shallow pool of water, enhancing the immersive experience.
Charrière explains that sound serves as a tool to map presence and draw attention to elements that are often invisible or overlooked. The chalk walls of the cellars, being composed of marine sediment, respond uniquely to sound, making the echo a material phenomenon that can be felt physically. This interaction transforms the space into a form of 'sound archaeology,' where echoes, though slightly degraded, remind us of the porous and imperfect nature of memory.
He further notes that coral reefs, often admired for their vibrant colors, possess a rich sonic landscape of crackles, pulses, fish vocalizations, and crustacean clicks. Reintroducing these frequencies into the _crayères_ is a deliberate act to invoke the 'ghost of a former sea,' allowing distant epochs to converge. The installation becomes an echo chamber where time dissolves, and matter itself seems to remember, creating a resonance rather than a mere reconstruction. This project underscores Ruinart's commitment to artistic collaborations that explore environmental themes and its rich geological heritage.
#JulianCharriere #Ruinart #SoundInstallation #ArtAndEnvironment #ChalkCellars #MarineEcosystems #EnvironmentalScience #ContemporaryArt #Reims #JulianCharriere #Ruinart #SoundInstallation #ArtAndEnvironment #ChalkCellars #MarineEcosystems #EnvironmentalScience #ContemporaryArt #Reims
Aún no hay comentarios
F5: Giulio Barresi on an Underwater Restaurant, a Dyson Vacuum + More
