Kyoto Meetings

This presentation brings together a group of fountain works by Jean-Michel Othoniel, conceived as an immersive environment where sculpture, color, and sound converge. Set upon a brick floor, the installation unfolds as a luminous landscape in which the shimmering beauty of glass interacts with the subtle movement and resonance of water.

Othoniel’s practice combines hand-blown glass elements—bricks and beads—with a deep sensitivity to material and sensory experience. In this context, water becomes an essential component: flowing, reflecting, and producing a gentle acoustic presence that activates the space and invites contemplation.

The work also creates a bridge between Japan and France. It was in Hokkaido that Othoniel further developed his exploration of glassmaking techniques, discovering a traditional Japanese method for incorporating gold leaf into glass—a process he later refined in Venice through collaborations with master glassmakers. The integration of gold imparts a luminous, precious quality to the works.

At ACK, this installation offers a meditative experience: an intimate encounter with light, water, and material transformation.