Bureau Doove is extremely happy to work again with Dominique Leroy after an interval of 12 years. We first collaborated for the Triennial Super! in Hasselt for which he developed the mobile sound project Dynamomap. Today Leroy is based in Nantes where he works amongst others in his mobile ‘caravan-lab’. His work is a subtle interplay between sound and vibrations of natural phenomena (weather data, natural cycles, bioacoustics …) DIY open source digital electronics (sensors and mini-computers, pure data patches, small speakers), recycled architecture and designs that stimulate communities to work together – often on open structures principles and with a tongue-in-cheek quality that is nevertheless serious.

We are currently developing projects based in Nantes and elsewhere.

In the meantime his exhibition Chèques vaca(n)ces still runs till 15^th April in Galerie RDV in Nantes. For the exhibition Leroy has transformed the gallery space into a garden in which he has integrated so-called (n) works – a work in progress initiated in January 2015 by the artist duo Dominique Leroy and Marina Pirot.

At the heart of the installation is the poetic sound installation Le jardin nô which invites for a walk and refers to the traditional Japanese theatre. This cinematic garden is composed of interlacing vegetals and small mechanics on recycled hard disks that rub, scratch and hit to create a sound that reminds of insects. This sculpture is activated by a series of invisible interactions on the basis of phenomena related to vibrations, acoustics and interconnections.

All elements of the exhibition are related and form a complex system – composed of conducting materials, sound flows and resonators. A microphone at the entrance of the gallery captures the sounds from the street which become a real activator of the sound installation.

More discreet the work I(n)terrupteur refers to a performance by Fluxus artist George Brecht. The out of order switch or ‘interrupteur) of the gallery points to the ‘First piano concerto’ of Brecht in which the artist opens the piano, raises his hand, the light is dimmed, he greets and leaves.

The title of the exhibition refers to the 500 copies of the Chèques vaca(n)ces or holiday cheques, which are recycled invitation cards to the exhibition that are numbered and signed by (n). They not only allow the visitor to speculate on the art market at a worth of 10 euros, but also to participate in Surf prescription(n), an outing in the Finistere area during a weekend in June 2017. Other than that the funds collected by selling the cheques are also used for the project vaca(n)ces en Californie (holiday in California). This will be a registration session of the gallery Sound Walk in Long Beach to present a next rendition of Le jardin nô and of the artistic project (n)A – nomadic Atelier – as part of HDTS (High Desert Test Sites) initiated by Andrea Zittel in the Yuca Valley desert and supported by the Eames Foundation.

Throughout the exhibition (n) as extract of its nomenclature thus “creates spaces of inventive openings”.

The exhibition is realised with help of SNhack, Jef Rolez and Kevin Cardesa. SNhack is a laboratory for the creation and realisation of open licence technical modules initiated by Jef Rolez.

RDV Galerie – 16 Alléee Commandant Charcot, 44000 Nantes

Wednesday – Saturday 2-7pm and on appointment