Jean-Pierre Gauthier

Battements et Papillons, 2006

© Jean-Pierre Gauthier • Photo: Richard-Max Tremblay

Jean-Pierre Gauthier, Battements et Papillons, © Jean-Pierre Gauthier • Photo: Richard-Max Tremblay

© Jean-Pierre Gauthier • Photo: Richard-Max Tremblay

Jean-Pierre Gauthier, Battements et Papillons, © Jean-Pierre Gauthier • Photo: Richard-Max Tremblay

© Jean-Pierre Gauthier • Photo: Richard-Max Tremblay

Jean-Pierre Gauthier, Battements et Papillons, © Jean-Pierre Gauthier • Photo: Richard-Max Tremblay

© Jean-Pierre Gauthier • Photo: Richard-Max Tremblay

Jean-Pierre Gauthier, Battements et Papillons, © Jean-Pierre Gauthier • Photo: Richard-Max Tremblay
Artist
Jean-Pierre Gauthier
Title
Battements et Papillons
Dimensions and medium
Piano, bench, aluminum insulating tape, solenoids, motion detectors, relays, microcontrollers, transformers, and various objects, 162 × 143 × 214 cm
Artwork description
Since the mid 1990s, Jean-Pierre Gauthier has explored the sonic and metaphorical potential of found objects. His kinetic installations are both amusing and poetic, and convey notions of order and chaos, permanence and fragility, performance, choreography, and gratuitousness. In the interactive sound installation Battements et Papillons, a mechanized piano and bench covered in aluminum tape sit in the centre of a darkened room, tethered to each other by metal cables and turnbuckles. Motion sensors placed on the bench capture the viewer’s movement and activate the piano keys and sostenuto (middle) pedal to produce random melodies. The piano stops playing when the viewer stops moving.

See Also

We were in Kyoto, 1997, Boardwalk, wooden structure, plastic, motors, confettis, silk, electrical supplies, and plaster and cement rocks.
Ilya et Emilia Kabakov, We were in Kyoto, 1997 We were in Kyoto, 1997, Boardwalk, wooden structure, plastic, motors, confettis, silk, electrical supplies, and plaster and cement rocks.
Spica, 1999-2001, Paint and vinyl lettering, 1/2.
Rober Racine, Spica, 1999-2001 Spica, 1999-2001, Paint and vinyl lettering, 1/2.
Home, 1986, Glass, lamp back, painted wood, projector, metal support, and 16mm black and white film, loop, mute, 1 min 10 s.
Wyn Geleynse, Home, 1986 Home, 1986, Glass, lamp back, painted wood, projector, metal support, and 16mm black and white film, loop, mute, 1 min 10 s.
still of Answer Me, 2008, HD video, stereo sound, 4 min 51 s, 3/6.
Anri Sala, Answer Me, 2008 still of Answer Me, 2008, HD video, stereo sound, 4 min 51 s, 3/6.
still EAST of Soliloquy, 1999, 16 mm colour film transferred on 2 DVDs, 2 screens, sound, 17 min 33 s., 5/6.
Shirin Neshat, Soliloquy, 1999 still EAST of Soliloquy, 1999, 16 mm colour film transferred on 2 DVDs, 2 screens, sound, 17 min 33 s., 5/6.
(bearings), 1996, Silk organza curtains, metal railings, motors, and steel rods and rings.
Ann Hamilton, (bearings), 1996 (bearings), 1996, Silk organza curtains, metal railings, motors, and steel rods and rings.
L’Écoute, 1992, 2 Cibachrome prints, 5/5.
Barbara Steinman, L’Écoute, 1992 L’Écoute, 1992, 2 Cibachrome prints, 5/5.
Sans titre, 1984, Mixed media and pigment.
Anish Kapoor, Sans titre, 1984 Sans titre, 1984, Mixed media and pigment.
Black Whole Conference, 2006, 74 chairs.
Michel de Broin, Black Whole Conference, 2006 Black Whole Conference, 2006, 74 chairs.
A Demonstration, 1981, Wood, particle board, metal, paint, plastic, light bulbs, electrical wiring, and various objects.
Ian Carr-Harris, A Demonstration, 1981 A Demonstration, 1981, Wood, particle board, metal, paint, plastic, light bulbs, electrical wiring, and various objects.
1911, 2006, Computer data projected on a flat screen, 3/5.
Charles Sandison, 1911, 2006 1911, 2006, Computer data projected on a flat screen, 3/5.
detail of Fatigues, 2014, Mounted animals, 3 elements (White-tailed deer, American red fox, North American porcupine).
Abbas Akhavan, Fatigues, 2014 detail of Fatigues, 2014, Mounted animals, 3 elements (White-tailed deer, American red fox, North American porcupine).
still of Exiles of the Shattered Star, 2006, HD video, colour, loop, sound, 29 min 51 s, 5/5.
Kelly Richardson, Exiles of the Shattered Star, 2006 still of Exiles of the Shattered Star, 2006, HD video, colour, loop, sound, 29 min 51 s, 5/5.
Your space embracer, 2004, Glass mirror cylinder ring, metal wire, motor, light, and tripod, 3/3.
Olafur Eliasson, Your space embracer, 2004 Your space embracer, 2004, Glass mirror cylinder ring, metal wire, motor, light, and tripod, 3/3.
detail of Jumbo Spoons and Big Cake, 2000, Mixed media and various materials.
Thomas Hirschhorn, Jumbo Spoons and Big Cake, 2000 detail of Jumbo Spoons and Big Cake, 2000, Mixed media and various materials.
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