Céleste Boursier-Mougenot presents ‘clinamen’ at Onassis Mandra

The multisensory art and sound installation ‘clinamen’ by French artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot is being presented at Onassis Mandra in Athens. This marks the first time the work has been exhibited in an outdoor setting.

The installation features three circular pools with moving water where hundreds of white porcelain bowls float, collide, and interact. These movements create spontaneous, crystalline sounds without human intervention, functioning as a living musical score. The title is derived from the Ancient Greek word for ‘swerve,’ referring to the Epicurean concept of unpredictable movement.

Originally developed in 1997, the work has previously been shown at the Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection in Paris and the Park Avenue Armory in New York. In Athens, the installation interacts with the city's ambient sounds and natural elements such as light, wind, and rain.