Circumnavigations

Circumnavigations is a performance imagined by the Théatre Electronique collective as part of the Jounrées du patrimoine at the Parc Jean-Jacques Rousseau in Ermenonville. The project consists of staging a utopian island factory on Île des Peupliers - where Rousseau was originally buried - using three elements: Two structures to assemble the miniature islands, and a ramp to launch them into the water. At regular intervals, the series of islands are launched onto a lake in a ritual sonified in two ways: The factories emit hammering and machine noises over a long crescendo. At the end of this phase, the islands drift away, emitting a sparkling sound supported by an electric bass solo. The inaccessible manufacture can be listened to and scrutinized from a number of stations on the banks.

Yann Rocher (design & manufacturing), Xavier Dousson (design & manufacturing), Antoine Fontaine (manufacturing), Galdric Fleury (manufacturing), Martin Geoffroy (manufacturing), Grégoire Carpentier (electric bass, composition, electronics).

Coproduced by Transcultures (BE) & Conseil Général de l’Oise (FR).