TAKE-OFF-LANDING

Interactive installation and reading performance
Wooden sculpture (16 x 100 x 100 cm), 3 robots (microcontroller, proximity sensor),
magnetite powder, plexiglass sheet

«TAKE-OFF-LANDING» is an interactive installation that merges mechanical innovation, artistic design, and performative elements to delve into themes of exploration and discovery across literal and metaphorical frontiers. Central to this installation is a one-meter square wooden sculpture surfaced with magnetite powder. Beneath this layer, three robots—each equipped with magnets and programmed to avoid collisions—navigate, their movements dynamically altering the magnetite’s configurations and simulating the probing of uncharted terrains.

Accompanying this mechanical dance is a meditative reading performance, where a text titled «Décollage» is recited, exploring themes of space exploration and the metaphysical journey through darkness and light. The text delves into the anatomy of light, the silence of the night, and the cold near Jupiter’s moon Europa, evoking a contemplative atmosphere that complements the physical exploration depicted by the robots. Phrases like «Being in the wake of a sea of gas that in the heavens with a rattle traces scars in the stratosphere» and «Ice geysers and an expulsion of life for the sensors» enhance the sensory experience, drawing parallels between the celestial navigation and the robotic movements on the sculpture.

This installation invites viewers to reflect on the convergence of technology, art, and science, and to consider how each domain navigates and represents the unknown. The use of magnetite—a naturally magnetic material—bridges scientific and artistic exploration, symbolizing the magnetic allure of the unknown that drives both scientific inquiry and artistic expression.

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