Miguel Chevalier Projects Complex Meshes Of Light To Rodez Cathedral

Digital Supernova 2019 is a generative virtual reality installation by French artist Miguel Chevalier projected onto Rodez Cathedral vaults, its central nave (80 m), its two transepts and transept crossing (30 m). 30 different colored networks of light, combine with beautiful pictures explosions of massive stars and supernova remnant, develop one after the other.

For this monumental immersive creation between art and science, Miguel Chevalier worked with astrophysicist Fabio Acero, a specialist in supernova remnant, who is developing his research at the AIM laboratory (CEA/ Saclay). Thanks to this collaboration, Miguel Chevalier was able to combine his wired virtual worlds with a series of exclusive documents that Fabio Acero delivered to him.

These large meshes take form and then lose their shape, creating ever renewed, diversified universes. Elements are attracted and repelled by one another, creating a breathing-like rhythm of dilation and contraction.

Digital Supernova resonates with the architecture of the cathedral and highlights the volumes of the columns and warhead arches that come to life before our eyes. A bridge is being built between the gothic high-tech of stone and the high tech of current technologies.

For ve evenings, Digital Supernova is accompanied by musical improvisations performed by the two organists Frédéric Deschamps and Adam Bernadac with the cathedral organ. The musical improvisations of these two virtuosos amplify the immersion in the work. Image and music respond to each other in a fusion of emotional nature that participates in true synesthesia.

Digital Supernova installation is also accompanied by the music of Jacopo Baboni Schilingi. For this generative musical creation, the composer recorded fragments of liturgical songs from different periods which are then processed with morphogenesis algorithms to create in nite musical variations. This musical creation contributes to creating an atmosphere favorable to daydream and contemplation.

The installation Digital Supernova releases radiant energy into this space of plenitude. It opens onto thein nite and dives visitors into the mysteries of the universe.