ArtLab
Projects that inspire beyond
Knowledge has limits. Imagination encircles the world.
ArtLab is a collective under The Spring Institute that aims to put imagination
and creativity at the core of spreading life to the stars.
LE JARDIN LUNAIRE
The Le Jardin Lunaire will open in Pleaux Summer 2025.
Le Jardin Lunaire (The Lunar Garden) is a contemporary art exhibition that explores the beauty and mystery of lunar landscapes through various forms of artistic expression: blending art, augmented reality (AR), and new technologies.
The dome, a structure that is intentionally difficult to access, symbolizes the conquest of the Moon, a crucial milestone for humanity’s curious and exploratory nature. The shape of the dome also represents a lunar future where organisms could be cultivated!
Will we one day have gardens on the moon?
Through innovative installations and captivating visual creations, the exhibition invites participants to reflect on our interplanetary future, and our quest for meaning and discovery!
MYCELIUM AND ART
The dome in Le Jardin Lunaire is made from mycelium, a fungal network that thrives between forests and soil, connects plants, and breaks down organic material. Mycelium is an extraordinary material with many sustainable uses and is increasingly replacing fossil-based materials in daily products.
Mycelium made from the Ganoderma fungus is lightweight and biodegradable but also strong. This makes it a great material for sculptural installations. The organic aesthetics of mycelium structures also evoke a sense of otherworldly beauty.
Mycelium plays a big role in Earth’s biological cycle. Using it in this installation serves as both a conceptual and practical exploration of how biology (and biological materials) might shape the future of interplanetary habitation. Plants growing on mycelium thrive, making mycelium a great candidate to help vegetation grow beyond Earth—in a sustainable and regenerative way.
Visualized below: the process of creating a dome with mycelium.
Note that for Le Jardin Lunaire, we will be using a mold made from algae-derived bioplastic from Eranova.
Mélodie C.
Mélodie Le Corre is The Spring Institute’s resident artist.
Her work is inspired by the fusion of traditional art and new technologies.
Specializing in Metaverse and augmented reality (AR) projects, Mélodie aims to share what she has learned in Japan—a country at the forefront of technological advancements—and integrate these insights into an immersive artistic project centered on Le Jardin Lunaire in Pleaux.
Lynn Carr
We are working with biologist Lynn Carr to develop the mycelium.
Lynn Carr is the founder of Champignon Coussacois, a French company specializing in the cultivation and sale of high-quality mushrooms, including artistic and decorative items made from mycelium.
Pictures to the right and below are from Carr’s mycelium collection.
Follow and connect with Champignon Coussacois:
On Facebook
On Instagram
Visit Website
Emyr Fivestarz
Next to the Le Jardin Lunaire installation at Pleaux College, artist Emyr Fivestarz will exhibit a graffiti mural on the same theme.
Emyr is a graffiti artist based in Albi, France. His art and artistic style are heavily nature-inspired with warm colors and many tropical themes, inspired by the many years he spent in Guadeloupe.
Follow and connect with Emyr:
THE SPRING ART WALK
The Spring Art Walk combines multiple installations to create an interactive experience across Pleaux, where visitors can explore sgraffito walls, storefronts, and small, scannable installations tucked away in alleyways. The Spring Art Walk will come to Pleaux summer 2025.
Amélie Mondejar
We are partnering with Amélie Mondejar, a sgraffito artist.
Sgraffito is an art technique in which a top layer (of glaze or paint) is scratched away to expose the color underneath, creating depth in the artwork.
Amélie will create a map on a wall at Pleaux College using this technique.
Follow and connect with Amélie Mondejar here.
Why have humans always wanted to fly?
This is the question that the figurines and birds above ponder. This installation is a meditation on freedom and the human spirit that travels through imagination, exploring the far reaches of space and the limits of human experience.
This installation is in 3D and will be displayed in a storefront in Pleaux. The figurines are being created from mycelium. The artwork also features Japanese kanji and similar shapes; these elements, representing the Moon and stars, add a cultural and mystical dimension to the installation.
INTERACTIVE ART
The fabrication of enamels on lava, representing the different sections of the Spring Institute, is being done in collaboration with local artisans. The lava enamels will be hidden throughout Pleaux, and visitors will have to find them during the Art Walk. They will be combined with augmented reality, allowing visitors to simply use a smartphone to reveal the associated 3D object for each enamel tile.
Julie Daô Van Ô
We are partnering with Julie Daô Van Ô to create the Lava enamel plaques.
Lava enameling is an UNESCO-listed technique, using natural lava stone.
Her expertise lies in fusing Julie’s expertise lies in fusing auvergne lava with vibrant enamels, producing unique and durable pieces that are both functional and artistic.
Connect with Julie here.
SPONSORS & ARTISTS
A big thank you to Eranova, Lynn Carr & Champignon Coussacois, Emyr Fivestarz, Amélie Mondejar, Julie Daô Van Ô and the rest of our partners.
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- Champignons Coussacois
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- Eranova
