Fossilation
2021-2026
Alice Jarry, Samuel Bianchini, Marie-Pier Boucher, Brice Ammar-Khodja, Alexandra Bachmayer, Didier Bouchon, Maria Chekhanovich, Matthew Halpenny, Raphaëlle Kerbrat, Annie Leuridan, Vanessa Mardirossian, Alexandre Mazel, Asa Perlman, Nathalie Perrier, Philippe Vandal, Lucie Vareilles.
Fossilation is a large-scale bioplastic membrane fabricated from food-waste biomass. The work is structured as a sequence of successive photograms in the manner of a filmstrip. Fossilation harvests residual energy—heat waste, flow, activity, and traffic—and converts it into electricity. This supplies a modulating lighting system that illuminates the membrane. Investigating the ecology of images, the work is a fossilized material record of contemporary technological culture and bears imprinted counter-forms of obsolete electronic components, including flat screens, cables, computer parts, and peripheral devices.
Exhibitions
: Centre Pompidou, Paris, France, 2021; Canadian Cultural Center, Paris, France, 2025; Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), in collaboration with MUTEK, Village numérique, and XN Québec, Montreal, Qc, Canada, 2026. : Ars Electronica, Emergency, Linz, Austria, 2021; MUTEK, 2021 Montreal, Qc, Canada. Curation: Hexagram.
Publications:
Fossilation: Nurturing Slow Expectations, Riverside Architectural Press, 2022
Form Taking / Force Shaping, Antennae, 2022
Workshops:
Materia Labo Public, îlôt Balmoral, Montreal, 2022
Production:
Bioplastic membrane: Alexandra Bachmayer, Maria Chekhanovich, Alice Jarry, Vanessa Mardirossian, and Brice Ammar-Khodja
Capturing the residual energy: Brice Ammar-Khodja, Didier Bouchon, Matthew Halpenny, Raphaëlle Kerbrat, Asa Perlman, Philippe Vandal
Light design: Annie Leuridan with the collaboration of Louise Rustan
Computer programming: Didier Bouchon
Overseeing the production of the work and its spatial installation: Lucile Vareilles
Technical support for production and/or editing: Théo Chauvirey, Corentin Loubet, Joséphine Mas, Simon Paugoy
Support: SSHRC Insight Development Grant (Membranes en action, PI: Jarry-Girard-A., 2020-2023), Chaire arts et sciences de l’École polytechnique, de l’École des Arts Décoratifs - PSL et de la Fondation Daniel et Nina Carasso, the Concordia Research Chair in Critical Practices in Materials and Materiality, and the Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture, and Technology at Concordia University, Hexagram: Research-Creation Network in Arts, Cultures, and Technologies, the Canadian Cultural Center-Paris, Society for Arts and Technology
Project Page
Alice Jarry, Samuel Bianchini, Marie-Pier Boucher, Brice Ammar-Khodja, Alexandra Bachmayer, Didier Bouchon, Maria Chekhanovich, Matthew Halpenny, Raphaëlle Kerbrat, Annie Leuridan, Vanessa Mardirossian, Alexandre Mazel, Asa Perlman, Nathalie Perrier, Philippe Vandal, Lucie Vareilles.
Fossilation is a large-scale bioplastic membrane fabricated from food-waste biomass. The work is structured as a sequence of successive photograms in the manner of a filmstrip. Fossilation harvests residual energy—heat waste, flow, activity, and traffic—and converts it into electricity. This supplies a modulating lighting system that illuminates the membrane. Investigating the ecology of images, the work is a fossilized material record of contemporary technological culture and bears imprinted counter-forms of obsolete electronic components, including flat screens, cables, computer parts, and peripheral devices.
Exhibitions
: Centre Pompidou, Paris, France, 2021; Canadian Cultural Center, Paris, France, 2025; Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), in collaboration with MUTEK, Village numérique, and XN Québec, Montreal, Qc, Canada, 2026. : Ars Electronica, Emergency, Linz, Austria, 2021; MUTEK, 2021 Montreal, Qc, Canada. Curation: Hexagram.
Publications:
Fossilation: Nurturing Slow Expectations, Riverside Architectural Press, 2022
Form Taking / Force Shaping, Antennae, 2022
Workshops:
Materia Labo Public, îlôt Balmoral, Montreal, 2022
Production:
Bioplastic membrane: Alexandra Bachmayer, Maria Chekhanovich, Alice Jarry, Vanessa Mardirossian, and Brice Ammar-Khodja
Capturing the residual energy: Brice Ammar-Khodja, Didier Bouchon, Matthew Halpenny, Raphaëlle Kerbrat, Asa Perlman, Philippe Vandal
Light design: Annie Leuridan with the collaboration of Louise Rustan
Computer programming: Didier Bouchon
Overseeing the production of the work and its spatial installation: Lucile Vareilles
Technical support for production and/or editing: Théo Chauvirey, Corentin Loubet, Joséphine Mas, Simon Paugoy
Support: SSHRC Insight Development Grant (Membranes en action, PI: Jarry-Girard-A., 2020-2023), Chaire arts et sciences de l’École polytechnique, de l’École des Arts Décoratifs - PSL et de la Fondation Daniel et Nina Carasso, the Concordia Research Chair in Critical Practices in Materials and Materiality, and the Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture, and Technology at Concordia University, Hexagram: Research-Creation Network in Arts, Cultures, and Technologies, the Canadian Cultural Center-Paris, Society for Arts and Technology
Project Page
Fossilation. 2021. Centre Pompidou. Paris, France. Festival Hors-Piste. Matières d’images exhibition (Curator: Géraldine Gomez). Photos: Samuel Bianchini and Hervé Véronèse.
Fossilation, 2025. Canadian Cultural Center. Oscillation. Nemo Biennale. Paris, France (Curators: Catherine Bédard, Alice Jarry, Samuel Bianchini, Marie-Pier Boucher). Photos: Vincent Royer.
Fossilation. 2026. Society for Arts and Technology, in collaboration with MUTEK, Village Numérique, and XN Québec. Montreal, Qc, Ca. Photos: Nina Gibelin Souchon.
