clinamen by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot
National Gallery of Victoria, International | Melbourne
3 May – 8 September 2013

Findings presented at the recent Museums Australia (MA) national conference in Canberra and the presence of Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s clinamen at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) both underscore the growing role of the museum to function as a place of social interaction.

In her article ‘Six megatrends changing the arts’ (artsHub, 19/05/13), Deborah Stone discusses factors (as identified by CSIRO trend analyst Stefan Hajkowicz) that are expected to influence the way museums and galleries operate in the future. Her discussion is in response to Hajowicz’s presentation at the MA national conference last week. As everyday physical encounters continue to be replaced by the virtual, it is of no surprise that Hajkowicz’s highlights a rising desire for social experience. He suggests that such experience might be found, in lieu of the shopping mall (an increasingly redundant space of social interaction), at the museum.

As we know, the twenty-first century art museum is no longer a stark white cube where the predominant sound is that of heels clacking on the polished concrete, amongst the occasional whisper.  It is instead a dynamic space of endless activity. With many contemporary artists engaging with site specific, performance based works and relational aesthetics. it is difficult to predict what one might nowadays encounter at the gallery. Remember Bianca Hester’s Please leave these windows open overnight to enable the fans to draw in cool air during the early hours of the morning at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in 2010?

At the NGV however, one thing appears constant: a dedication to contemporary art that encourages social interaction.  In 2010 Harrell Fletchercollaborated with Melburnians at the NGV to produce The sound we make together (Melbourne), a hybrid of installation, participatory performances and presentations. Fletcher is perhaps best known for his web-based project with Miranda July, Learning to Love You More 2002-2009, that used the internet to re-engage participants with the outside community. Melbourne artist Jon Campbell gathered people at the gallery to create contemporary music and art in the collaborative work, Just sing what you feel (Dec 2012 – Feb 2013) and earlier this year, Rikrit Tiravanija invited visitors to dine in the gallery as part of Untitled (lunch box). Through the sharing of a meal, the public was encouraged to touch, taste and talk.

The NGV’s promotion of the gallery as a space of social interaction is also emphasised by the current installation of French artist, Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s clinamen. Whilst I am a sucker for anything French, it was Max Delany (Senior Curator, Contemporary Art, NGV) quoted in the media release who sparked my intrigue:  “With its seductive use of colour, sound and space, clinamen offers a multi-sensory synaesthetic experience, whilst also creating a social space for reflection and contemplation.”  What more could one ask for from a piece of art?

Ceramic white bowls of various sizes float in a large round pool, drifting in no particular direction upon the bright blue surface.  At times they converge, to produce pristine tones like that of a glockenspiel. Then they disperse, each following an unknown path. The energy of the piece is fluctuating and the sounds are variable. Clusters of vessels gently form to produce soft rings as though in conversation. It is calming to close your eyes and listen to the melody of the bowls, but observing the patterns created is as equally entrancing. clinamen is at once an aural and visual delight.

Situated in Federation Court on the ground level of the NGV, people naturally gravitate towards the subtle chimes of the luminescent pond upon entry. MDF seating is constructed around the pool, allowing space for congregation, and comfort for extended contemplation.  It acts as a public square. Not only a place of social gathering but one of communal reflection. Whilst I initially imagined myself to be alone with this work, in some hidden wing of the gallery, I soon learned that its centrality was essential. There is something special about being around people who are as equally enthralled in a piece of art as ones self – or perhaps it is simply being around people…

Sophisticated in its simplicity, and all encompassing in its sensory effect, I hope to encounter more of Boursier-Mougenot’s work in Melbourne. clinamen is a contemporary companion to Monet’s Garden. Though more than a supporting act, it is an event in itself.  Whilst clinamen is an ultimately introspective work, its power lay in its subtle ability to gather people, creating a unique and shared moment amongst otherwise strangers. This is the type of experience that we increasingly desire according to Hajkowicz. Boursier-Mougenot and the NGV demonstrate the growing agenda of the museum as a space of social gathering, facilitating meaningful connections in an alienating society.