Cyborgiennes: A Literary Sci-Fi Installation at 46 Digital

At the 46 Digital space in Paris, artists Agnès de Cayeux (born 1966) and Laura Mannelli (born 1980) present "Les Cyborgiennes," a literary and sci-fi installation for two connected pebbles, running from December 4, 2019 to February 14, 2020. The work features two speaker-like entities with robotic spider legs topped with nested bowl forms holding a gray pebble, accompanied by a vinyl-like disc displaying holograms. The artists read aloud excerpts from two feminist sci-fi novels: Vonda McIntyre's "Superluminal" (1983) and Joanna Russ's "The Female Man" (1975), both from a list compiled by Ïan Larue based on Donna Haraway's "Cyborg Manifesto" (1984). The audio mixes to create a textual texture, focusing on character experiences and blurred boundaries. The installation is part of the Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles's new digital arts department, curated by director Stéphanie Pécourt, in partnership with Ran-Réseau des arts numériques. De Cayeux, a researcher in digital art and culture, and Mannelli, an architect, have previously created composite female figures in Second Life. The work explores network interactions and virtual realities, advocating collective thought and collaboration. Until January 24, the space is open only evenings or by appointment.