Porcelain Bowls Conjure a Symphony of Tones in Massive Basin Exhibit
Artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot delves into sound and motion in a grand installation currently displayed at Bourse de Commerce — Pinault Collection in Paris. Entitled *clinamen*, the multisensory work showcases an 18-meter (59-foot) diameter pool in the museum’s Rotunda, filled with water that mirrors the sky through its dome. The vivid blue basin resembles an ocean as a collection of porcelain bowls is set adrift by a gentle current. The ensuing movement produces “melodious and incantatory sounds,” all occurring without human involvement.
Sound plays a crucial role in *clinamen*. At its essence, the installation emphasizes the symphony generated from the simple act of existing. There are no pre-arranged compositions or orchestras. Instead, sound emerges by chance as the bowls naturally collide.
While sound remains one focus, the form is equally significant. The title of the piece draws inspiration from Epicurean physics, which proposed that the universe consists of two elements: matter and void. Matter is made up of atoms that move in random trajectories. The porcelain bowls can be regarded as Boursier-Mougenot’s atoms; they too navigate in unpredictable manners. This unpredictability serves as a core aspect of the overall experience of *clinamen*.
“If in the split second before two porcelain bowls clash you attempt to predict the resulting note or timbre,” Boursier-Mougenot states, “most often your anticipation will be thwarted by the sound of the impact.” Therefore, each presentation of *clinamen* is distinct.
Boursier-Mougenot’s *clinamen* has been previously displayed at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, and at Centre Pompidou-Metz in Metz, France. At the Pinault Collection, it is presented on an unparalleled scale. *Clinamen* is currently on display until September 21, 2025.
Exhibition Information:
Céleste Boursier-Mougenot
*clinamen*
June 5, 2025–September 21, 2025
Bourse de Commerce—Pinault Collection
2 Rue de Viarmes, 75001 Paris, France
Céleste Boursier-Mougenot: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/celesteboursiermougenot/)
Bourse de Commerce — Pinault Collection: [Website](https://www.pinaultcollection.com/)
Related Articles:
[Colorful Crocheted “Forest” Installation Takes Over Paris’ Grand Palais](https://mymodernmet.com/ernesto-neto-grand-palais/)
[Do Ho Suh’s Stunning Architectural Installations Made of Fabric Come to London’s Tate Modern](https://mymodernmet.com/do-ho-suh-tate-modern/)
[HYBYCOZO’s Largest Ever Geometric Light Installation Opens at Sensorio in California](https://mymodernmet.com/hybycozo-dimensions-sensorio/)