Audi Talents 2021: immersive exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo

From November 26 to December 5, the works of the duo Antoine Lecharny and Henri Frachon, Marie-Sarah Adenis and Charlie Aubry, winners of the Audi talents 2021 competition, are exhibited at the Palais de Tokyo. Organized by curator Gaël Charbau, the ” Mind Map ” exhibition combines a quest for life, virtual reality, artificial intelligence and abstract design.

Since 2007, the Audi Talents prize has supported young creators (artists and designers) in carrying out a project. Inspired by the concept of Mindmapping (“mental map” in French), which designates a graphic representation of the different paths of thought, the name of the exhibition ” Mind Map” precisely refers to the different paths and visions that a reflection can take, a concept or a principle.

The only duo among the winners, Henri Frachon and Antoine Lecharny are the instigators of Abstract Design Manifesto. A research work on abstract design exhibited through a selection of 56 objects. Their distribution in 4 rows symbolizes the 4 axes of research on which they based this creative approach: the hole, the triangle, the dissonance and the rush (the only assembly technique by spinning). In their approach, they sought to define what made it possible to obtain a hole or a triangle for example, what did not make one, what processes made it possible to create one… The axis of dissonance has also created questions because the concept remains very broad, and it has often been a question of defining what is dissonant and what is not, according to them. Concerning the doucine rush, the very technical process offered interesting working possibilities.

They describe their work as an experiment in design consisting of going beyond the proper use of the object. All the objects on display are not actually intended to be useful, they are simply aesthetic and are the answer to very specific questions. “We start from one of these 4 principles, we ask ourselves questions, work out suggested answers and then try to define its limits. What we want is to bring out the very essence of the object. » However, they insist on the fact that all objects are finished products and are no longer intended to be modified.

A rendering that called on different skills: stone cutting, embroidery, carpentry, spinning on metal… In fact, half of the works on display were made by the artists themselves, while the other part was co-made with qualified craftsmen, in particular for the principle of doucine rush, which is a very technical know-how and not very widespread in France.

Passionate about the quest for life and the world of science, Marie-Sarah Adenis presents What hangs by a thread, an installation with crossed visions between biology, technologies, philosophy and sociology. “I try to find and create forms that carry the story of what I want to tell”. Passionate about the kinship ties between living beings and DNA, she tries to assert a collective reflection through suspended installations, those present on the ground and through the virtual reality helmets made available.

Charlie Aubry’s P3.450 project is the result of a reflection on the impact of artificial intelligence, data sharing and questioning around them. In the era of social networks, cookies and Internet trends, Charlie Aubry questions behavior on the Internet. An imposing, interactive installation: it conceals video sensors programmed to recognize and analyze the clothing worn by visitors. The data retained is then sent to YouTube, which instantly offers videos related to the item of clothing on the many screens that make up the installation. The artist thus wishes to open a reflection on our modes of consumption and the permanent solicitation of the Internet to offer content related to our habits and interests.

Maïa Pois