The Paris Opera launches Coddess Variations, a new digital art collection between sculpture and dance

The Paris Opera continues its commitment to digital artistic creation and launches, from Octobre 20, 2024, a new digital art collection gathering dance, sculpture and visual creation. Born from a dance performance – which will be presented to the audiences at the Foyer de la danse inside the Palais Garnier on Octobre 20 during Paris+ Art Basel – the Coddess Variations collection brings together unique physical and digital works. 

After a first collection in March 2023, the Paris Opera unveils Coddess Variations - a term merging the words “code” and “Goddess”. Based on an original idea by Hermine Bourdin, this new digital art collection is the work of four women artists who were inspired by the figure of a Paleolithic goddess coming to life through dance.

This collection is the result of a collaboration between the Paris Opera (with, among others, the participation of Paris Opera Ballet dancer Eugénie Drion), the American artist duo Operator (Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti, specialised in generative choreography), and sculptress Hermine Bourdin. Filmmaker Hervé Martin Delpierre, known for his documentary Daft Punk Unchained, will contribute to the picture presentation of the "phygital" collection of these sculptures and digital works.

The choreographic score was imagined by artist Ania Catherine, from the Operator duo, combining dance sequences generated by an algorithm. It features three steps in a woman’s life: becoming a young woman, a mother, an older woman. The choreography will be danced by Eugénie Drion, who will wear a costume designed by sculptress Hermine Bourdin and made in the Paris Opera workshops in close collaboration with Christine Neumeister, Costumes Director. Thanks to the motion capture made with the Xsens combinations, which record the dancer's movements and transcribe them digitally, the choreographic gestures will be featured in the works of the art collection. Sculptures by Hermine Bourdin, inspired by this Palaeolithic goddess, will complete the collection.

The Coddess Variations collection will be sold on the Paris Opera digital art platform, created by the partner Polyconseil, via the Ethereum blockchain*, a company specialising in the digital transformation of companies.

A continuing dialogue between the virtual and real worlds, Coddess Variations will also feature a dance performance in the Grand Foyer of the Palais Garnier to mark the launch of the pre-sale of the collection, which will take place during Paris +Art Basel on October 20, 2024, in partnership with Devialet.

To keep the project alive at festivals and beyond, director Hervé Martin Delpierre will be making a film to show the origin of this collection.

^{*A blockchain allows to stock NFT (Non Fungible Token), which are assets linked to digital content such as pictures or videos. NFT allows the asset to be certified as unique and therefore exclusive.}

After the success of its first digital art collection Émergence, ballet algorithmique launched in March 2023 with the collective Obvious, the Paris Opera continues to approach new areas combining artistic creation and technological innovation. With a history spanning more than 350 years, the Paris Opera is renowned for the quality and diversity of its programming at the Palais Garnier and the Bastille Opera, and the unique architecture of its two theatres. With more than 400 performances each season, the Paris Opera presents ballet, opera and concert performances, as well as a program dedicated to young audiences. nft.operadeparis.fr  

Sculptrice française, Hermine Bourdin s'implique depuis plusieurs années dans une démarche artistique qui tend à rendre tout son sens à la féminité des déesses, divinités tournées vers la terre, allégorie fondamentale face à une époque en quête d’harmonie et d’équilibre. herminebourdin.com  

Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti are an artist duo whose collaborative practice, Operator, is behind the multi-awarded Human Unreadable collection of generative digital art. Its artistic practice is based on a collaborative approach. The artists’ expertise collides in conceptual works that blend poetry and technology. Dejha's experience as an immersive artist and Catherine's as a choreographer give birth to a unique art, connecting technology and the body. www.operator.la  

Soon after she joined the Ballet, Eugénie received the AROP Award “Jeunes Espoirs”. She is a brilliant performer of both the classical and contemporary styles and is passionate about every kind of performance connecting the digital world to the real world. : https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/artists/eugenie-drion

International documentaries film director Hervé Martin Delpierre is interested in the artistic and cultural trends of the 21 th century. His documentary Daft Punk Unchained was sold in over 80 countries and watched by more than 150 millions people. 

Devialet est une entreprise française d'ingénierie acoustique au savoir-faire technologique unique. En associant qualité sonore et pureté du design dans une ligne de produits singuliers, Devialet offre des expérience d'écoute hors-norme. Afin de faire résonner l'excellence française à travers le monde, l'entreprise s'appuie sur une stratégie solide de partenariats industriels (avec Safran, Ariane, Alpine...), institutionnels (avec l'Opéra de Paris ou La Villa Médicis) ou encore artistiques : elle met ainsi son expertise acoustique au service de lieux, institutions et entreprises qui - à travers l'expérience du son - font rayonner la création artistique autant qu'inventent les innovations de demain. www.devialet.com