Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's 'Clinamen' Installation Unveiled Outdoors in Athens
French artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's acclaimed sound art piece, 'clinamen,' which has previously graced the grand halls of Paris's Bourse de Commerce and New York's Park Avenue Armory, is now venturing into the open air. From September 26th to December 5th, 2026, this dynamic sound installation will transform the newly restored Onassis Mandra in Athens. Here, a multitude of white porcelain bowls will drift across three circular water features, producing a constantly changing musical composition through their soft interactions.
Originally conceived in 1997, 'clinamen' has always been characterized by its adaptable nature. The interplay of water, porcelain containers, circular basins, and subtle currents drives the movement of the bowls, ensuring that each iteration yields a distinct arrangement, acoustic profile, and tempo. More than twenty versions of the artwork have emerged since its inception, each carefully adjusted to harmonize with the architectural and acoustic properties of its specific venue.
In its latest manifestation, the primary variable extends beyond merely the surrounding architecture. For the first time, 'clinamen' is being presented outdoors, exposing the artwork to the unique environmental conditions of its Athenian setting. At Onassis Mandra, the symphony of the bowls blends with the ambient sounds of the city, along with fluctuating sunlight, wind, human voices, and the potential for rain. This outdoor presentation represents a significant departure for Boursier-Mougenot, who previously expressed reservations about such an arrangement. He noted during a press preview in Athens, "People wanted to put it outside. I said no. It’s an indoor piece.”
In Athens, the artwork transforms into an expansive system, situated within the outdoor ambiance of Onassis Mandra, a well-preserved Belle Époque open-air theater adjacent to the Onassis Library and Dionysiou Areopagitou. Boursier-Mougenot emphasizes the critical balance between the artwork and its environment, stating, “It needs to be perfectly balanced. It has to be perfect when there is no wind, no rain. And then if suddenly the breeze comes, it’s going to be perfectly balanced.” A passing breeze can alter the bowls' movement; changes in light can modify the water's visual aspect; and rain can introduce an additional sonic layer to the composition. The artwork's title itself refers to the Epicurean concept of 'clinamen,' which describes the unpredictable deviation in the trajectory of atoms, underscoring the central role of minor variations in the installation's operation.
Each porcelain bowl is meticulously chosen by Boursier-Mougenot for its individual resonant quality, ensuring that every collision contributes a unique, delicate, bell-like tone without the need for a human performer. There is no predetermined musical score or fixed sequence; the continuous motion of the water is the sole generator of the sound. Boursier-Mougenot's interest in movement stems from his early engagement with music, where he was captivated by the physical act of producing sound. He explains, "The only message I want to convey is an invitation to inhabit a space that I have designed especially for them." The ambient city sounds—traffic, conversations, birds, footsteps, wind, and rain—intertwine with the ceramic tones, guaranteeing that the installation's soundscape is never precisely the same twice. The weather itself becomes an integral component, with a sudden downpour adding its own rhythm to the bowls' dance on the water. The artist also views chance as a recurrent theme throughout his broader creative practice, revealing during the preview, "Many of my works have been made by coincidence. It’s crazy. I have many, many stories to tell." In Athens, 'clinamen' undergoes a new trial, embracing the outdoor environment to introduce variables that previous indoor presentations could largely regulate.
This innovative installation encourages us to reconsider our relationship with both art and nature, demonstrating how seemingly random occurrences can coalesce into a profound and ever-changing aesthetic experience. It highlights the beauty found in unpredictability and the harmonious integration of human creativity with the natural world. The work reminds us that art can be an open-ended dialogue, constantly shaped and enriched by its surroundings, inviting viewers to engage with their environment in a deeper, more mindful way.