The artistic project Retour aux sources is the brainchild of a pair of environmental artists known as Mouawad Laurier, and marks the beginning of the 10-year countdown to the300th anniversary of Maison Ruinart on 1 September 2029.
The work takes the form of a root planted in an ancient crayère chalk cellar. The root listens to what is happening within its natural surroundings above, and immerses the audience in a visual and sound experience 30 metres below ground. Deep inside the earth, where there used to be an ocean, the audience is confronted with the physical and temporal character of humanity.
The root, endowed with sensitive intelligence, listens to the natural elements involved in the champagne produc- tion process through a device that uses complex arti cial intelligence. It reminds us that human beings and nature are intrinsically connected.
The result of both sedimentation and fossilisation, the thick chalk layers took millions of years to form. Since ancient times, men have dug out this chalky soil by hand to shape incredible underground ca- thedrals. Now countless miniature sources of light (LEDs) have been installed in these immense spaces, that reproduce the sensation of water that use to be in that space. The experience created is a reminder of mankind’s place in both time and scale.
At the time we started to explore the artistic development of this piece, we got strongly inspired by “L’intelligence des plantes” book from S. Mancuso and A. Viola. This essay talks about the unknown existence of the plants intelligence. Roots inside the earth was also a cross message to talk about the roots of the wines but also the roots as part of this incredible network and this intelligence that represents 99% of the earth biomass.
In opposition of the plants, the artificial intelligence that is for us nothing but intelligence compare to nature, is a tool that we wanted to use to listen how climate change is evolving and impacts the weather also as the production of Champagne. It listen in real-time those inputs to create a live performance inside this place 30 meters deep.
“Retour aux sources” is a permanent installation that can be seen during the cellar visit at Ruinart in Reims. Here to book your visit.
All pictures by Guillaume Faure
Produced by Frederic Dufour at Ruinart
Curated by Benoit Baume at Fisheye magazine
Managed by Cécile Riffaud, Fabien Vallérian, Olivier Livoir, Laura Duponchel
Cellar master : Frederic Panaïotis
Wine maker, Residency supervisor and data expert : Caroline Fiot
Software development / Management : Hand Coded special thanks to Joan Sandoval - Stephanie Huerre
Lamp technology engineering by the genius of Salvador Mauri at Sakma
Motors and kinetic technology by Mecaoctet, special thanks to L’ecu
Technical installation and support from Eric Magnier at Image’In
Glass blowing by NasonMoretti in Murano, special thanks to Marco Nason
Ironwork at Ferronnerie Mazingue, special thanks to Regis Chainot
Audiovisual team, video, photo, sound recording and drone by easy barcelona
Special thanks to Stephanie Huerre, Guillaume Faure, Antoni Hadzijanev and Jesse Watts for their implication at every step of this long way.
Special thanks to Giorgia Scarpa and Marco Scarpa to make the Murano experience so special.
And last but not least special thanks and love to Alban and Nael who supported us all along this creation and for whom we are doing this in order to add our stone on a changing paradigm world, where all living should be respected.