Installation Clinamen by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot invites reflection through sound and movement
This summer, the Bourse de Commerce—Pinault Collection offers an immersive sonic and visual experience with clinamen, an installation by French artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot.
Situated in the museum’s iconic Rotunda, the installation features a vast circular basin filled with water that mirrors the sky above, framed by the glass and metal dome.
Ceramic bowls float gently on the surface, drifting with a subtle current that sets them into motion. As they collide and separate, the bowls produce soft, melodic sounds, transforming the space into an ever-evolving acoustic landscape.
The soundscape generated by clinamen emerges entirely without human touch. This ambient composition forms in real time, with no pre-recorded track or traditional musical score.
The work reflects Boursier-Mougenot’s ongoing investigation into sound as a living, autonomous material. Rather than adhering to traditional musical frameworks, the installation allows sonic structures to emerge naturally from the interaction of objects, space, and time.
The result is a continuous auditory experience that defies repetition, echoing the unpredictable behavior of atomic motion that inspired the title.
Rooted in Epicurean philosophy, the term “clinamen” describes the spontaneous deviation of atoms, a metaphor that resonates throughout the installation. Each moment within the piece is unrepeatable, shaped by random interactions and ephemeral connections.
Visitors find themselves immersed in a slowed-down rhythm, where time stretches and each sound becomes an event.
In this liminal space, the ordinary is elevated into a sensory experience that encourages deep attention and quiet introspection.
As curator Emma Lavigne explains, the concentric vibrations on the water’s surface evoke a desire to grasp infinity, echoing artistic aims seen in Miró’s Blue trilogy, Rothko’s silent atmospheric glazes, and Monet’s meditative water lilies.
Yet, unlike these historical references, Boursier-Mougenot’s work is not guided by a predefined pictorial vision. Instead, the form emerges directly from the process, making each composition a living response to the moment.
As an artist with a background in music composition and live performance, Boursier-Mougenot brings a unique sensibility to his installations. His career spans over three decades and includes representation of France at the 56th Venice Biennale.
He continues to exhibit globally, from São Paulo and London to Istanbul and Beijing. Each of his installations responds to the spatial and environmental qualities of its setting, crafting a sonic experience that is shaped as much by the architecture as by the listener’s presence.
All images: Bourse de Commerce
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