Surrealist Novel 'Une Saine Distance' Unites 43 Artists in AI-Driven Narrative
Leïla Grace Voight's novel, 'Une Saine Distance. Quoi de plus beau qu'une œuvre au premier soir ?', was released by Naima in 2026. This work showcases 43 contemporary artists within a surreal narrative that intertwines art, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence. The story follows a solitary bachelor who engages with his muse, Moon, and a virtual entity named Susana Distancia (SD), who advocates for 'healthy distance' amid the Covid pandemic. Each chapter, reminiscent of 'One Thousand and One Nights,' highlights a specific artist and includes an illustration. The plot features a 'hapless prisoner' set in Venice and is dedicated to journalist Elisabeth Couturier, with contributions from artists like ORLAN, Nathalie Talec, and Miguel Chevalier, along with allusions to their creations.
Key facts
- Novel 'Une Saine Distance' by Leïla Grace Voight published by Naima, 236 pages, €20.
- The novel unites 43 artists in a surrealist-inspired narrative involving AI and digital networks.
- Three main characters: a reclusive writer, his muse Moon, and virtual figure Susana Distancia (SD).
- SD is a Mexican virtual figure designed to enforce 'a healthy distance between beings' during Covid.
- The hero contacts artists to send artworks online, such as drawings or photographs.
- The narrative is structured like 'One Thousand and One Nights' with a chapter per artist.
- The novel is dedicated to the late journalist Elisabeth Couturier.
- Featured artists include ORLAN, Nathalie Talec, and Miguel Chevalier.
- Miguel Chevalier collaborated with Professor Olivier Schwartz of the Institut Pasteur on SARS-CoV-2.
- The vocabulary includes terms like 'agrypnie' and 'zinzolin', and references Hans Bellmer and abbé de Lattaignant.
Entities
Artists
- Leïla Grace Voight
- ORLAN
- Nathalie Talec
- Miguel Chevalier
- Hans Bellmer
- Elisabeth Couturier
- Olivier Schwartz
Institutions
- Naima
- Institut Pasteur
- Connaissance des Arts
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Mexico