Matthieu Saladin CAC 40 Brétigny

CAC Brétigny
Matthieu Saladin
CAC 40 Brétigny
Sound installation
Production CAC Brétigny 2011
Matthieu Saladin is an artist, musician and researcher whose practice originates from a
conceptual approach. He is particularly interested in the history of the forms of music and
the creative process, as well as the links between art and society. On the occasion of “Noise
and Capitalism: Exhibition as Concert” shown in CAC Brétigny in September 2010, the Basque
artist Mattin invited Matthieu Saladin to collaborate in the creation of the performance
“Brutalized Aesthetics” shown since in the Hebbel Am Hufer theatre in Berlin.
This cooperation follows the w.m.o/ (record label developed by Mattin) 2007 CD edition of the
work “Stock Exchange Piece”. This sound piece, based on the gold and petrol stock exchange
rates translated into sound frequencies, led the CAC Brétigny to propose to Matthieu Saladin
the realisation of a specific version for the art centre. An initial version was therefore
presented as a live concert. “CAC 40 Brétigny 1988-2011” took in account the entirety of the
exchange rates of the CAC 40 index (French stock exchange index similar to FTSE or NASDAQ)
since its creation in 1988, a birth date shared also by the art centre and the launch of the
socialist cultural decentralization policy in France. The piece was the conclusion of the
evening “A Secret History of Crises” programmed by Matthieu Saladin last February 19th in the
art centre, revolving around the history of capitalist economy in the 20th century. The event
also included the projection of Jean Dréville’s silent movie “Autour de l’argent”,
contemporary with the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and an invitation to the composer Eliane
Radigue to present her work “Adnos”, initiated in 1973-74, during the first oil crisis.
Similar to the concert adaptation, the installation version “CAC 40 Brétigny” (2011) keeps the
same principle of conversion, only with a direct live link to the market situation. The work
is permanently audible during the art centre’s opening hours. The device central to Matthieu
Saladin’s « CAC 40 Brétigny » is a computer program connected to the Internet that transposes,
in concordance with the opening times of the Paris Stock Exchange, the real-time CAC 40 index
rates in audio frequencies, as well as its 50-day moving average.
The software, installed on one of the computers in the art centre’s office, broadcasts the
generated sounds in the corridor situated behind the exhibition space. The program is
configured as a background task, automatically launched as soon as the computer is powered on,
according to the working days and hours of the centre’s team.
With this work Matthieu Saladin suggests a peculiar listening session in rhythm with the
market variations and subject to opening hours in step with the stock exchange, and not with
the ones of the cultural venue. One of the questions the work probably raises is, for how much
longer?
Pierre Bal-Blanc
CAC Brétigny
Centre d’art contemporain de Brétigny
Espace Jules Verne, rue Henri Douard
91220 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
Tel. 0160852076
info@cacbretigny.com
www.cacbretigny.com
CAC Brétigny
Matthieu Saladin is an artist, musician and researcher, whose practice originates from a
conceptual approach. He is particularly interested in the history of the forms of music and
the creative process, as well as the links between art and society. He has a PhD in Aesthetics
and is associate researcher in IDEAT (Paris 1 – Panthéon-Sorbonne University, CNRS).
His research is linked to the aesthetics of experimental music. He teaches history and
aesthetics of popular music in the FLSH in Lille and co-edits the scientific magazine Volume!
La revue des musiques populaires (Seteun Publishers).
www.irma.asso.fr/Matthieu-Saladin
www.seteun.net
Works produced by the CAC Brétigny
Matthieu Saladin & Mattin "Brutalized Aesthetics"
Performance :
CAC Brétigny, Octobre 21, 2010
Hebbel am Ufer (Hau 1) Berlin, February 5th, 2011
Matthieu Saladin "CAC Brétigny 1988 – 2011"
Performance concert, CAC Brétigny, February 19th, 2011
Matthieu Saladin "CAC 40 Brétigny"
Sound installaton, CAC Brétigny, 2011
“The experience of experimenting”
Conference cycle on experimental music
Organized by Matthieu Saladin and Instants chavirés, Montreuil.
In partnership with IDEAT, Institute of Aesthetics of Arts and Technologies (Paris 1 –
Panthéon-Sorbonne University, CNRS UMR 8153), the Music Department of Paris 8 University,
and the CAC Brétigny.
www.instantschavires.com
Next conferences
- Wednesday April 6 th 2011, 3pm :
Dan Warburton "L’esthétique EAI et le renouveau improvisé"
Paris 1 Panthéon – Sorbonne University, 1 rue Victor Cousin Paris 75015.
- Wednesday May 11th mai, 3pm :
Pierre Albert Castanet "Du bruit dans les musiques expérimentales"
Paris 8 University, 2 rue de la Liberté, Saint Denis (Room A0166)
Publications (selection)
“Le bruit du “n’importe qui” in Le performantiel Noise (2010)
“Les formulations du silence dans les écrits de John Cage” in Art Présence (2010)
“Points of resistance and criticism in free improvisation” in
Noise & Capitalism, Arteleku (2009)
“La reprise” and “La reprise (bis)” vol. 7-1 et 7-2. Volume ! Revue des musiques populaires,
ed. Seteun (2010)
CAC Brétigny
CAC 40 Brétigny
Installation
HP1
HP2
HP3
HP4
HP5
HP6
logiciel
Le dispositif central de l’installation CAC 40 Brétigny
est un programme informatique qui, connecté à Internet,
transpose en temps réel et selon les heures d’ouverture
de la bourse de Paris le taux du CAC 40, ainsi que sa
moyenne mobile sur 50 jours (MA 50), en fréquences
sonores.
Les fréquences évoluent, se rapprochent ou s’éloignent
l’une de l’autre au gré des oscillations du marché et
engendrent ainsi dans leur mouvement des phénomènes
acoustiques au sein même de l’espace de diffusion – la
transcription sonore d’un flux.
Le programme est installé sur l’un des ordinateurs
La transposition s’effectue par simple substitution de du bureau, relié via un système d’amplification à six
l’unité de mesure. Par exemple si le taux du CAC 40 est enceintes encastrées (HP1 - HP6) dans le faux plafond
à 3864,38 points à un instant « t », la fréquence sonore du couloir se situant derrière, et longeant, l’espace
(précisément une fréquence sinusoïdale) résultante sera d’exposition principal.
de 3864,38 Hz, puis si ce taux est à 3859,76 points une Le programme est configuré en tâche de fond, de telle
minute plus tard, instant « t’ », la fréquence sonore sorte qu’il se mette en fonction automatiquement dès
résultante sera de 3859,76 Hz, etc. Même chose, et que l’ordinateur est allumé, selon les heures de travail
simultanément, pour la moyenne mobile sur 50 jours, de l’équipe du CAC Brétigny. L’ordinateur lui-même
moyenne habituellement associée à l’indice concerné reste complètement fonctionnel pour le travail.
dans la présentation des cours boursiers. En somme,
Matthieu Saladin
la variation des indices détermine la variation des
fréquences résultantes.
The device central to Matthieu Saladin’s « CAC 40 Brétigny » is a computer program
connected to the Internet that transposes in real time, in concordance with the opening times of
the Paris Stock Exchange, the French financial index (CAC 40) rates as well as its 50-day
moving average, into audio frequencies.
The transposition is achieved by a simple substitution of the measure unit. For instance, if the
CAC 40 rate is at 3864,38 points in the moment « t », the resulting audio frequency (a
sinusoidal frequency, to be precise) will be 3864,38 Hz, and then if the rate is at 3859,76 points a
minute later, at “t’”, the resulting frequency will be 3859,76 Hz, and so on. In a similar way and
simultaneously, the 50-Day moving average (usually associated to the corresponding index in the
representation of exchange rates) is also converted. On the whole, the variation of the rates
determines the variation of the resulting frequencies.
The frequencies evolve, moving closer or farther from one another according to the market
oscillations and give birth in their movement to acoustic phenomena taking place in the site of
their broadcast – a sound transcription of a flow.
The program is installed on one of the office computers, connected via an amplification system to
two ceiling speakers (LS1 + LS6) in the suspended corridor ceiling situated behind (and running
along) the exhibition space.
The program is configured as a background task, automatically launched as soon as the computer
is powered on, according to the working days and hours of CAC Brétigny’s team. The computer
remains otherwise totally operational for other tasks.
Matthieu Saladin
Technical specifications:
-
1 computer
1 software (supplied)
6 ceiling speakers: Focal IC-105
1 HiFi home amplifier, minimal output power : 2 x 50 Watts
Speaker cable, length as needed to connect the amp to the speakers
1 mini-jack/RCA cable, to connect the PC to the amp
White plastic wire moulds for the speaker cable (optional according to the installation)
CAC Brétigny
The Contemporary Art Centre of Brétigny is open from Tuesday till Sunday (2-6pm) and evenings
before shows at the Theatre Brétigny.
Admission free.
The team of CAC Brétigny
Isabelle Dinouard
Administrative and accounting assistant
Pierre Bal-Blanc
Director
Delphine Goutes
Executive in charge of production,
Assistant manager
Julien Duc-Maugé
Curator of the cultural project,
Visitor manager
Pierre Simon
Mediator – Registrar
Nadine Monferme
Accounting assistant
Céline Semence-Rodriguez
Coordination
Vania Pion
Invigilator
Angela Chennaf
Assistant invigilator
Rachid Boubekeur
Maintenance technician
Sophie Mugnier
Administrative and financial Director
Getting to the Art Centre
By train: Take the RER C suburban train from Paris (35min) in direction of Dourdan or Etampes,
stop at Brétigny (Trains coded ELBA, DUBA, DEBA, ELAC).
Continue by foot (1 km) from the RER station to CAC Brétigny, Espace Jules Verne: take the
station exit “Place de la Gare”, then turn left and follow the Avenue de la République up to
Rue Danielle Casanova. Turn right and follow Rue Danielle Casanova, then turn left on Rue
Henri Douard at the 1st intersection.
By car, from Paris: Motorway A6 towards Lyon, exit for Viry-Châtillon,
Fleury-Mérogis, then follow Brétigny Centre.
CAC Brétigny
Centre d’art contemporain de Brétigny
Espace Jules Verne, rue Henri Douard
91220 Bretigny-sur-Orge France
Tel. 0160852076
info@cacbretigny.com
www.cacbretigny.com
CAC Brétigny