Yann Toma, an artist-in-residence at La Maison Française of NYU (16 Washington Mews, New York, N.Y.), presents his latest installation, Polarities at the noted cultural venue, opening Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m., and running until Wednesday, May 29.
A celebrated artist, Toma, known for his energy-related works and large-scale installations (among them Dynamo Fukushima, a monumental and participative installation in the Grand Palais, Paris and Human Energy, an installation of light in the Eiffel Tower powered by humans), as well as his offbeat photography and compositions, inaugurates the second year of his three-year residency at La Maison Française with a conceptual installation of light with an associated glass sculpture that reflects the energy and dynamism of those who encounter it.
The exhibition work by Yann Toma turns the cultural center into a minimalist space, shedding its conventional identity to create an immersive experience through art, technology, and human connection. Polarities engage through a glass sculpture filled with a gas subjected to a bombardment of electrons, forces assumed by the artist to be complementary and placed at each end of the work, reacting sensitively to the audience’s presence. Powered by light and physical engagement, the installation evolves and shapeshifts in response to audience interaction, creating a seamless fusion of artwork and viewer experience.
Special performances will complement the installation. The first of these will be in partnership with The Opening Gallery in Tribeca (42 Walker Street) on May 23. The second will be at La Maison Française on May 29, on the day the exhibition closes. Polarities will be on display at La Maison Française of NYU from May 14-29.
For more information about the event, please visit the La Maison Française website, or contact Kourtney Rutherford at kkr2011(at)nyu.edu .
About La Maison Française of NYU:
For over 60 years, La Maison Française of New York University has served as a major forum for cultural exchange between the French-speaking world and the United States. Its rich program of lectures, symposia, concerts, screenings, exhibitions, and festivals provides an invaluable resource to the university community, as well as the general public. One of the most active French centers on an American campus, La Maison Française of NYU is recognized as a Center of Excellence by the French Embassy in the United States.
About Yann Toma:
Yann Toma, an artist and researcher, is an artist-observer residing at the UN permanently. Since 1991, he has reinvested the reactivated memory of the former Ouest-Lumière electricity company to create a symbolic network dedicated to producing and disseminating artistic energy. His works, held in prestigious collections such as the Centre Pompidou and the Neuflize’s Bank, question the notion of energy, the impact of art on society, and the importance of ethics. His projects involve a shared production process, with the public playing a crucial role in generating the artwork and redistributing energy between artist and viewer. More information about Yann Toma and his previous work can be found at YannToma.com.
