Dijon: Discovering the Interaction between Art and Science

As part of the Regional Biennial of Arts and Sciences “Networks! Wherever Weaving”, a festive day was organized on Saturday, 29 May in the Jardin de l’Arquebuse for young and old.

“Networks! Events take place everywhere it weaves” until July 7, as technical explanations are mixed with current scholarly research in Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

In the program: a dance show, an interactive program, an artistic performance, a concert, meetings with researchers from the University of Burgundy, workshops and games for children and adults (Find the program).

“The university is part of the city.”

On the afternoon of Saturday, May 29, 2021, the workshops could be accessed by registration even if there were only a few placements available, which made it possible for on-site registration.

Among the registered spectators and escorts abroad, one hundred people participated. The artistic dimension was sensitive during this festive day but always had a scientific background.

“The original idea was to have art and scientific works in Jardin des Sciences to meet another audience. We have people who pass through the park who don’t dare to go to the campus, and don’t dare to come and meet researchers or artists in Athens,” explains Marie-Laure Bodiment Serouge Director of the University’s Cultural Pole from Burgundy.

“The university is part of the city, we want to meet everyone,” she asserts. Thus, this work outside the walls makes it possible to reach an audience different from other events of the Biennial.

Awareness workshops on the concept of the network

Chacha Boudin’s creative workshops are inspired by nature and science. The first workshop raises awareness of the concept of the molecule using plasticine balls and pearls. “Pearls or balls are the corn that we will connect using a stick or string of chenille to make a molecular carving,” explains Dijon, a visual artist.

A second workshop based on poster art by biologist Ernst Eckel to create a “wall of patterns” with a grid of photos. Earth art inspires the third participatory workshop of weaving from plants and objects collected in the garden.

In a young orange, a “Bouge!” Baptiste Chatel, a research musician, and Fabrice Blaise, director of Athena, suggested an interaction between man and machine. Movement differences are analyzed to adjust music and light emitted by tech support.

“There is always an interaction between art and science.”

The “Embodied Virtual Reality” of contemporary dancer Margarita Bergamo of Voix et Omnipresenz has packed a virtual reality headset. The participant sees pictures – projected onto a screen for viewers around them – and sometimes the dancer interacts through physical contact with the person.

“There has been work done on the movement with researchers from the CAPS laboratory, and there is always an interaction between art and science,” notes Marie-Laure Bodiment Serouge.

The Biennial will return to the Jardin de l’Arquebuse on the afternoon of 26 June for a big match with the researchers that will also take place on the afternoon of 27 June at the Parc de la Colombière.

Jan Christophe Tardefon

Thibault Roy makes scientific research available through drawing