Nouvelle Vague

Four artists are waiting impatiently at Place Saint-Paul to show off the colours and techniques they use to create their exciting and varied worlds! They have all participated in a creative residence run by Romain Tardy, who is well-known in events and digital and contemporary art circles for his original work that ties in to the world of music. They also all have close connections with the Video Mapping European Center, an important hub in this field that fosters creation, shapes young talent from across Europe, and connects video mapping installations with audiences. There are four videos to discover, each between one and a half and two minutes long, on the theme of travel… All aboard!

www.videomappingcenter.com
   

What if we looked at the flora around Lyon as though seeing it for the first time? "We don't spend enough time observing the plants in the Lyon region! But once we get closer, we discover how beautiful and complex they are... These plants are worth protecting", – artist Cindy Lo. She takes the plants on the Massif Central botanical conservatory's list of protected species and makes them the stars of the show: the beautiful facade of the Saint-Paul station is transformed before our very eyes. Let's rally all of our senses and revel in this multicoloured, verdant choreography!

Franck Dion's video mapping project is a poetic reminder of otherness. The facade of the station is transformed into a theatrical backdrop for encounters between travellers, passers-by, and motionless figures. This is a projection in the style of a live performance, where fugitive silhouettes and fleeting thoughts take to the stage. These travellers move in worlds where people cross paths or pass by without seeing, size each other up, share a smile, and sometimes collide. We follow these travellers' every step…

We are plunged into a world of pure abstraction, winding our way through a labyrinth of mysterious ideas in the middle of a bustling city... One question leads to another, until the ground seems to buckle beneath our feet. Some guidance from the artist on how to navigate her world: "If the ground has disappeared, there's nothing for it but to float, to enjoy the sensation of flying, the absence of gravity, and look through the lens of insubstantial images". It is about destination, time, the feeling of eternity, fear of the end... With his unique concept, this uncompromising artist creates an immersive experience that leaves space for every member of the audience to find their own questions and connections. 

Time passes slowly in this waiting room, but we won't be getting bored! Just like the traboules, Lyon's network of secret passageways, our imagination loses its way in the nooks and crannies of the station. We are swept along: one foot in reality, the other in the subconscious, as the artist leads us down a corridor to a parallel universe. A stationary journey which transforms Saint-Paul Railway Station into a fantastically surreal artwork. Modelling clay to represent the real world, 2D and 3D virtual animations for the fantasy world: this piece invites us to settle down in our (virtual!) seats and let our minds wander through the fertile lands of our imagination.