designboom · Creativity & design

Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's 'clinamen' Moves Outdoors in Athens

Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's sound installation 'clinamen' is now outdoors at Onassis Mandra in Athens until December 5, 2026. Previously an indoor piece, this iteration exposes it to environmental factors for the first time.

Hundreds of white porcelain bowls float in three circular pools, their collisions creating an evolving aquatic score. The installation adapts to each venue, making each presentation unique.

In Athens, the outdoor setting introduces new variables. Sunlight, wind, city sounds, and rain now influence the bowls' movement and the resulting soundscape.

Boursier-Mougenot, who initially resisted placing the work outdoors, calls it an 'open system.' He notes its need for balance, which is then altered by natural elements.

The title 'clinamen' refers to unpredictable atomic deviation, reflecting the installation's operation. Each bowl has a distinct timbre, contributing unique sounds as they interact.

Sound is generated solely by water and bowl movement, with no performers or fixed score. This focus on movement to produce sound is a recurring theme.

The installation invites viewers to inhabit a space where city sounds mingle with porcelain tones, ensuring a unique auditory experience.

This outdoor presentation tests chance in Boursier-Mougenot's work, allowing the environment to introduce variables previously controlled indoors.

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