A unique exhibition – "Dancing in the Light" – is blending light-inspired artworks with dance performances, thanks to the participation of a dozen international choreographers.
Capturing light has long been an obsession for artists, from Impressionist painters to photographers. The artworks on display in Dans(e) la lumière ("Dancing in the Light") provide both inspiration for and a backdrop to a series of dance performances that explore the interplay between light, movement and human perception.
The exhibition, hosted by the EDF Group Foundation in Paris, juxtaposes static art with movement, blurring the lines between performer and audience. Among those performers is renowned Franco-American choreographer Carolyn Carlson, who brings her signature blend of improvisation and poetic exploration.
"Light creates the space, the ambiance, whether it’s mysterious or bright," Carlson, 81, told RFI, explaining that her fascination with light is a core element of her art. "It’s as important as choreography, music or costumes in my work. It creates poetry and mystery."
She chose to dance beside "Lunatique neonly" – a bright blue light installation by François Morellet, because of its simplicity and sensual geometry. "It attracted me because of the circles," she noted. "I like the idea of many half-circles that are not quite closed. It’s very sensual and close to my work in calligraphy."
The EDF group, France's state-owned electricity supplier, has built up an impressive art collection – with light being a central theme.
Also on display are several photographs by American Surrealist Man Ray, from his 1931 series entitled "Electricity". Using a technique he called "rayograph", he pays homage to electricity not only as an energy source but as an artistic subject in itself.
There are also several lithographs made by French artist Raoul Dufy in 1953 – detailed studies inspired by his giant panorama of Paris, "The Electricity Fairy". This 600 square-metre work was commissioned by the Paris Electricity Distribution Company (EDF's previous name) for an international exhibition in 1937.
The fresco pays tribute to more than a hundred historical and scientific figures, including Pierre and Marie Curie and French physicist André-Marie Ampère – the founder of electrodynamics and electromagnetism.
The EDF Foundation’s hybrid exhibition also aims to bring modern art and dance to an audience that wouldn’t necessarily see these kinds of performances, be that young school children or community groups for people with disabilities.
Carlson believes this kind of proximity brings about a more profound connection to art in general. "When I performed here, I could see the smiles on people’s faces," she says. "In a museum, the interaction is much closer, unlike on a big stage where energy has to travel far."
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This inclusivity extends to the exhibition’s accessibility, as entry is free – a deliberate choice to make art available to all.
Agnès Chemama, artistic director of the exhibition's choreography programme, says it’s about reaching out to different audiences, especially young people – "To light a spark, give them confidence in expressing themselves, perhaps help them to exist fully in their bodies," as she explains.
Visitors can expect to encounter a variety of dance styles, from contemporary to urban, performed by both established and emerging artists. These include celebrated names such as Angelin Preljocaj, Raphaëlle Delaunay and Mourad Merzouki, alongside rising talents, like the teenagers from Groupe Grenade with an interpretation of the song Room with a View by Rone.
"This exhibition isn’t so much about stories," Carlson emphasises. "Dance and light are languages everyone can understand," she says. "It’s about perception, about seeing light. It’s for everyone – children, poets, philosophers. Everyone takes away something unique."
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"Dans(e) la lumière" is on until 31 January 2025 at the EDF Group Foundation in Paris.
