ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's 800 Porcelain Bowls Create Sonic Installation at Park Avenue Armory

exhibition · 2026-06-11

French artist and composer Céleste Boursier-Mougenot has launched his latest installation, 'clinamen,' at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City, running from June 10 to August 2, 2026. This immersive piece includes three 40-foot diameter pools filled with over 10,000 gallons of water, featuring 800 floating white porcelain bowls. These bowls respond to the water's temperature and motion, creating a unique musical experience. Visitors can meander around and relax on elevated platforms, deepening their interaction with the sound. Originally introduced in 1997, 'clinamen' refers to the unpredictable behavior of atoms. The installation has evolved over the years and has been displayed at various notable locations, including Paris and San Francisco.

Key facts

  • Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's 'clinamen' installation features 800 floating porcelain bowls in three pools.
  • Each pool is 40 feet in diameter and contains over 10,000 gallons of water.
  • The bowls are tuned to water temperature and currents, creating a live musical composition.
  • The installation is on view at Park Avenue Armory, NYC, from June 10 to August 2, 2026.
  • Boursier-Mougenot first debuted 'clinamen' in 1997.
  • Earlier versions used inflatable plastic pools at Paula Cooper Gallery in 1999 and 2000.
  • Previous venues include Bourse de Commerce (2025), Asia Culture Center (2024), SFMOMA (2018), and National Gallery of Victoria (2013).
  • The title 'clinamen' refers to the random swerve of atoms.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

Locations

  • New York City
  • United States
  • Paris
  • France
  • Gwangju
  • South Korea
  • San Francisco
  • Melbourne
  • Australia
  • Manhattan
  • New York

Sources

Related stories