Words projected on the walls transform a simple place into a space that invites an intimate thought of feminism.
Installation realized in collaboration with the students of the class of 2021/2022 of the Master 2 Audiovisual and Digital Media of the Université Grenoble Alpes, within the framework of a workshop “Mobile video and immersion” animated by Benoît Labourdette.
The installation
These words, diagrams and drawings are projected on the walls, the floor and the ceiling. They make hatch in all simplicity of the personal questionings. This singular space invites to a return on oneself, to a calm thought. We have noticed that visitors spontaneously want to lie down in this benevolent place, to let go. This place seems to be full of a sweet life and rich in discoveries. After a while, they also want to take a picture of each other in this universe, to keep a trace of this very intimate moment.
The device
The device is simply made of a short focal length (0.5) video projector and an IPEVO VZ-R bench camera connected to it. Both are placed at a corner of the room. The projector covers a surface whose width is double the distance. Thus, if the room is 5 meters diagonal, the projector will project an image of 10 meters wide, which will cover almost everything, from floor to ceiling.
Under the camera, we draw with a felt pen. These drawings (in negative, thanks to a function integrated in the camera) are projected on the walls. We can also cut small pieces of paper with the drawings, so we can place them very precisely in the space.
The creation
The moment of creating the words and drawings is collective. The whole is constituted as each person proposes, taking meaning little by little in relation to the rendering of the projection in space. It is a real moment of exploration.
Of course, for the group that creates the texts and drawings, it is necessary, prior to this activity, to have taken the time to reflect on feminism, so that what appears is well-founded and important for everyone. I think that a classic exchange on the subject is not the best way, because we risk normative discourses. Personally, I bring a lot of books on feminism, and I propose very simply, freely, a time where each one consults, computes, impregnates himself of what speaks to him, and of perhaps more precise notions than those which he had before. Thus, the words and drawings that will be proposed will be more anchored and enriching for the visitors.
The interaction
The visitors, accompanied by a sound environment diffused in the room, will find much astonishment to see the texts and images transforming, anamorphosing as they move in the space. They will also enjoy the projection on their bodies. They will experience a very intimate, very physical relationship with these notions and patterns. For example, the projection of the clitoris on a man represents a very touching image. And, in groups, they will play at placing the other in very precise postures, so that the words are projected in the right places on the body. This work on posture echoes the postures in social interactions between women and men.
It could also be possible to imagine that visitors intervene on the drawings and texts, by moving them, by creating new ones. But, surprisingly, moving around in this simple space already offers a very large number of interactions, which really make you think, in a very playful and at the same time very delicate way.
