lacune féconde

Land art flirting with archaeology and genetics

Land art installation acting as an architectural alteration. The location is filled with tons of earth containing wild seed species. Evolution takes place in the exhibition for a three-month period. A lively and impressive work that is apprehended by direct contact with our footsteps, a walk that modifies our perception of space and its hygrometric, acoustic and olfactory moods.

Exhibition space
La Maréchalerie

Date
April 14, July 3, 2016

Mediums
Earth & wild seed species

Images credit
© Aurélien Mole

Curator
Valérie Knochel-Abecassis

Technical Manager
Alan Purenne

Production Manager
Sophie Peltier

Communication
Bérangère Marizien

With the support of
LVMH
David-Alexandre Gadmer

Special thanks to
Géry Baron
Joël Cottin
Antoine Jacobsohn
Thierry Sasse

Jérôme Meynard
Thierry Petit
Christophe Delory
Manuel Palacio
Arnaud Moinet

Poli Gyaurova
Victoria Colin
Guishi Wang
Pauline Zamaron
Jasmine Khalafi

Land art and soundscape flirting with archaeology and genomics

At La Maréchalerie, Marc Johnson presents a landscape installation untitled “lacune féconde” (fecund lacuna), an architectural alteration that enhance the art center with recycled earth, carrying within it seeds of wild grasses and flowers (clover, mustard, pheasant’s eye, corn marigold, cornflower). Evolution takes place in the exhibition for a three-month period, modifying the audience hygrometric, acoustic and olfactive perception of the space. Based upon philosophical and sculptural understanding, the project highlights the way in which archeology and genetics questions the living through paleogenomics: The study of ancient DNA.

In contrast to this land art piece, the visitor is challenged by the soundscape (made with artificial voice): “NBIC report” from the document commissioned by the US National Science Foundation and Department of Commerce, in June 2002 untitled: “Converging technology for improving human performance: nanotechnologies, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and cognitive sciences”.
This site-specific installation emerges us into a dystopia and highlight the paradox of technological advances. By its physical as well as critical dimension, the exhibition offers, perhaps the distance and the awakening necessary to better understand: human dignity, ethics, biopower and biopolitics in the era of bioengineering and emerging technologies.

With the support of LVMH, EPMDNV: l’Établissement Public du Musée et du Domaine National de Versailles, le Potager du RoiENSP: l’École nationale supérieure de paysage, la Ville de Versailles.