Science, Desires, and the Imagination: A Three-Way Dialogue Between Pierre Meunier (artist), Gaëlle Martin-Gassin, and Boris Chenaud (scientists)

An original project at the intersection of the arts and sciences. A time for cross-fertilization centered on desire and longing, and on artistic and scientific tensions regarding the subject matter, the research process, and the creative process.

An event organized by the Art & Culture Department, the Scientific Culture Department of the University of Montpellier, and the Théâtre des 13 Vents, in conjunction with the performances of *La Bobine* by Rhumkorff (January 31, February¹ and 2) and *Bachelard Quartet* (February 7, 8, and 9) by Marguerite Bordat and Pierre Meunier, at the Théâtre des 13 vents.

Pierre Meunier ’s artistic career spans the worlds of circus, theater, and film. He has worked with Pierre Etaix, Annie Fratellini, Philippe Caubère, Zingaro, La Volière Dromesko, Giovanna Marini, François Tanguy, Matthias Langhoff, Jean-Paul Wenzel, and Joël Pommerat.
Pierre Meunier creates and writes his own shows, developing a theatrical style that integrates physical movement with mechanisms and raw materials—which serve as true partners to the actors on stage. In his studio, he experiments with dynamic sculptures and other installations, engaging in quiet exploration guided by a fascination with the strangeness of these presences that so stimulate the imagination. His work draws inspiration from encounters with scientists and philosophers, visits to industrial foundries, workshops in psychiatric settings, periods of writing, as well as improvisations on stage with the team gathered around a theatrical project. The aim is always to provoke a fertile unease in the viewer’s mind, to stir within them an active, intimate reverie capable of connecting—through spontaneous resonance—the dreamlike, social, political, poetic, and metaphysical dimensions of the individual.

Gaëlle Martin-Gassin is an associate professor of physical chemistry at the University of Montpellier – Charles Gerhardt Institute in Montpellier. She teaches at all levels from the bachelor’s degree through the doctoral program and develops nonlinear optics experiments to study molecular interactions in liquid media within porous nanomaterials. Her involvement in the CoSA (Connexion Art et Science) group stems from a certain openness. Her scientific research most likely benefits from a sense of wonder and the freedom to explore new lines of thought.

Boris Chenaud is an associate professor of physics at the University of Montpellier – Charles Coulomb Laboratory. As Professor physics in the Faculty of Sciences, his research focuses primarily on experimental quantum transport and quantum metrology. He participates in various initiatives to promote scientific literacy. In this capacity, he has co-organized various initiatives in Montpellier: for the International Year of Physics in 2005, the Year of Light in 2015, and, most recently, for the Year of Physics 2023, which included the installation of a giant Foucault pendulum at Place du Nombre d’or.

Free admission.