PasséFutur Art Show

On a September evening in 2022, the historic L'Auguste Théâtre in Paris became the site of an extraordinary convergence of digital art and classical music. PasséFutur presented fifteen unique digital creations by Arnaud Quercy, each conceived as a visual response to live performances by cellist Marion Hedin and pianist David Erhard. The evening transformed the intimate theatre into a portal where past and future collapsed into a singular, immersive present—3D animations breathing in synchrony with Debussy, Granados, and other masters of the classical repertoire.

The project emerged from a collaboration with students at IESA arts & culture school, who conceived and produced the event as both an academic capstone and a genuine cultural moment. Their curatorial vision positioned the performance not as background accompaniment to visuals, nor visuals as mere illustration of music, but as a true dialogue between mediums—each piece a conversation between pixel and pitch, algorithm and emotion.

Arnaud Quercy's role in PasséFutur extended beyond conventional visual accompaniment. Working as a digital alchemist, he crafted bespoke 3D environments and animations that responded to the emotional architecture of each composition. From the reflective tranquility of Debussy's "Beau soir" to the rhythmic fire of Granados' "Andaluza," each visual work was meticulously modeled to resonate with the specific textures and dynamics of the live performance, creating moments where sound and image became inseparable.

The audience response confirmed the power of this multidisciplinary approach. Patrons lingered long after the final notes faded, reluctant to break the spell cast by the interplay of light, shadow, and sound. PasséFutur demonstrated what contemporary art can achieve when technology serves not as spectacle but as a vessel for emotional truth—a seamless integration that speaks directly to the heart while pointing toward new possibilities for immersive artistic experience.

Artist Statement

The fifteen pieces created for PasséFutur represent an attempt to translate music into visual form—not as illustration, but as parallel expression. Each 3D environment and animation was conceived in response to the specific emotional architecture of its accompanying composition, seeking to capture the reflective stillness of Debussy or the rhythmic urgency of Granados through light, form, and movement.

Working with live performers rather than recordings introduced an element of genuine dialogue. The visuals responded not to fixed interpretations but to the living breath of Marion and David's performances, creating a space where digital precision met human spontaneity. This tension—between the programmed and the performed, the algorithmic and the emotional—became the conceptual heart of the project.

Logistics

This single evening performance took place on Friday, September 30, 2022, from 20:00 to 22:00 at L'Auguste Théâtre, located at 6 Impasse Lamier in Paris. The event was produced by IESA arts & culture students. This event is now archived.