on nothingness

on nothingness (2016) is an experimental research project born out of a fascination with the paradoxical concept of the wall of nothing in Boris Vian’s novel Heartsnatcher (1953). The aim is to paint a portrait of nothingness through the participation of a wide range of people. We have explored the complex relationships between words, their meanings and their translations, in order to gauge their impact on the visual and conceptual representation of nothingness. This project offers a philosophical journey through these intangible ideas.

Based on the concept of collective intelligence, often at the heart of virtual communities, on nothingness brings together audiovisual content from participants around the world. It celebrates the diversity of languages, cultures and opinions by inviting everyone to engage with a subject that, at first glance, seems devoid of meaning. Yet these responses revealed surprising depth, revealing far more about the participants’ identities and nature than about nothingness itself.

The project took a fluid and evolving form. Over time, it took on various incarnations: a website, an in situ installation and several video montages. Among these, a specific montage was created for EastCast, a radio programme broadcasted on Resonance FM in May 2021 (available here).