Basic Concept
The central concept is to explore and stage the symbiotic relationship between plants and humans through an immersive audiovisual show. It highlights a new dynamic, where improvisation and audience interaction are at the heart of the experience, offering a fresh perspective on the deep connection between the plant and human worlds.
Show Format
A 60-minute immersive concert that includes presentation and interaction with the audience. This show is led by musician and visual artist J3ZZ, who performs solo. On stage, he uses an acoustic violin, synthesizers, and various electronic instruments. The plants, which play a central role, are connected to a biological data capture system designed by the artist. This data is then translated into sound textures and contemporary visual projections. The performance exists at the intersection of experimental music, free jazz, electronic music, sound design, and field recording.
Audiovisual Components
The visual and sound elements are carefully integrated to create a truly immersive experience. The sound system, which can be configured in stereo, quadraphonic, or octophonic depending on the venue’s capabilities, places the audience at the center of the acoustic experience. Ambisonic sound diffusion envelops the spectators, while large-scale video projections on stage enhance the immersion. Concert-style lighting adds an extra dimension to the visual setup. The interaction between the plants and the artist generates both visuals and music in real time, merging the natural and human worlds into a unique performance.
Themes and Messages
The goal is to enable an enlightened awareness and a heightened consciousness of our place within the natural universe. The show highlights the universality of the connection between all forms of life, while inviting an inner transformation, subtly altering the audience’s perception to better understand the impact of our actions on the environment. Through this geopoetic, collective, and educational experience, this show aspires to strengthen this fragile yet powerful bond with nature, creating a moment of reflection, wonder, and transformation.
In addition to raising awareness about biodiversity preservation, the show offers a fusion of science, art, and nature, transforming the bio-signals of plants into audiovisual stimuli. This allows spectators to experience an immersive journey where they can interact directly with the plants, fostering a rich and inclusive social experience.
Target Audience
Racines & Résonances is designed to appeal to a broad range of participants, making the experience accessible and engaging for a diverse audience. The project pays special attention to underserved audiences, thanks to the strong sensory dimension of the installation, which engages touch, sight, and hearing. This sensory aspect allows the inclusion of individuals with specific needs, offering them a unique immersive experience.
Moreover, the show is crafted for an intergenerational audience, with a focus on connection and the sharing of memories, stories, and transgenerational experiences. It creates a space where all generations can come together, interact, and share a common experience, strengthening family and social bonds through the exploration of nature.
Staging and Scenography
The staging of Racines & Résonances is carefully designed to reinforce the connection between the ordinary and the extraordinary. The solemn lighting, focused on the plants, the artist, and his instruments, creates an intimate and familiar atmosphere. This evokes the initial mental image of a violinist and potted plants, grounding the performance in something recognizable for the audience.
Simultaneously, a large-scale visual projection immerses the audience in the reactions of the plants and their interactions with their immediate environment, including the artist and the audience. These visuals, layered within the spectator’s field of vision, allow for deep immersion in the symbiotic relationship developing on stage.
The fog, generated by machines, evokes the humidity of tropical forests, adding an additional sensory dimension to the experience. The biological data capture system, designed by the artist, is highlighted, emphasizing the technological link that deserves daily awareness. Finally, the sound diffusion system is intentionally kept “invisible” so that the focus remains on the interaction between the artist, the plants, and the visual elements.
Collaborations and Contributions
It is primarily a solo project, conceived and realized by the artist J3ZZ. To date, the project has not yet incorporated external artistic collaborations, though it remains open to future opportunities in this regard. On the technical side, the team currently consists of a sound engineer (Front of House). As the project evolves, the team will be expanded to include a video engineer and a lighting engineer.
Objectives and Impact
The ultimate goal goes beyond merely offering an immersive and spectacular experience of high artistic and technical quality. The show aims to have a profound impact on the ecological and artistic consciousness of the audience. By exploring the relationship between humans, living beings, and technology, it seeks to transform how individuals relate to the natural world while encouraging reflection on the use of technology in daily life. The performance aspires to foster a deeper, more respectful awareness of the living world, as well as critical reflection on how technology is integrated into our interactions with the environment.
History and Past Performances
Racines & Résonances has been presented at notable events since its first public performance in 2019:
- August 22, 2025: Villa de la Région in Saint-Denis (Réunion Island) — In front of an audience of approximately 150 people. During the opening of the first ever sound art exhibition on Réunion Island entitled “Résonance d’une île”.
- May 31, 2024: Institut Français de Hongrie in Budapest (Hungary) — In front of an audience of approximately 150 people. Biosonification workshop with 30 participants.
- May 14, 2024: École de management et de l’impact de Sciences Po, Paris (France) — Part of Impact Day, in front of an audience of approximately 100 people.
- May 4, 2024: Institut Français de Maurice in Rose-Hill (Mauritius) — In front of an audience of approximately 300 people. Biosonification workshop with 30 participants.
- October 28, 2023: Lespas in Saint-Paul (Réunion Island) — Part of La Nuit des Musiques Expérimentales in front of approximately 140 people.
- September 23, 2023: Institut Français de Hongrie in Budapest (Hungary) — In front of approximately 150 people. Biosonification workshop with 40 participants.
- September 22, 2023: Brain Bar Festival in Budapest (Hungary) — In front of approximately 500 people.
- October 18, 2020: Széllkapu, Millenáris, Budapest (Hungary)
- September 25, 2019: La Lasagneria Budapest (Hungary) — Opening party, first public performance with biosonification system.
- September 19, 2019: Association of Hungarian Art Photographers, Budapest (Hungary) — Intimate invitation-only premiere.
At these events, the intergenerational audience showed great interest in both the theme and the artistic work presented. Feedback from professionals and the public highlighted the uniqueness and originality of the concept, as well as the poetic nature of the performance. Many spectators expressed a desire to speak with the artist after the show, demonstrating that Racines & Résonances had effectively captivated their consciousness and sparked deep reflection on the relationship with the living world.
Logistics and Technical Requirements
See technical rider.
