Philippe Parreno's Living Installation at Espace Louis Vuitton Venice

Philippe Parreno's exhibition 'Elsewhen' opens at the Espace Louis Vuitton in Venice as part of the Fondation Louis Vuitton's Beyond the Walls program. The installation integrates living microorganisms generated in a bioreactor by scientists Jean-Baptiste Boulé and Nicolas Desprat. The artwork reacts to visitors' movements through an experimental hybrid program, creating an irregular and unpredictable 'ballet mécanique 2.0'. The space features phosphorescent wallpaper with stylized black irises, a luminous canopy, and a reflective shutter that respond to the audience. Light and shutter movements incorporate the viewer's silhouette, while in darkness the iris outlines become ghostly presences. The work evolves with human movement, gaining autonomy within the flow of time.