mesocosm
The audiovisual project mesocosm, initiated in 2021, is a collaborative artistic venture by sound artists Joël Lavoie and Philippe Vandal, alongside visual artist Emma Forgues. The project draws inspiration from the concept of the mesocosm—a tool developed during the New Ecological Movement of the 1960s to simulate large-scale ecosystems within laboratory settings, enabling a deeper understanding of complex ecological interactions. Through this lens, the collective explores speculative storytelling intertwined with environmental concerns and the anthropogenic impact, weaving together narratives that span diverse spatial and temporal dimensions.
Since its inception, mesocosm has evolved through a series of significant presentations that highlight its artistic growth. The project debuted in August 2021 with its world premiere at MUTEK Montréal (prélude), followed by an international presentation at Currents New Media in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in June 2022. In 2023, the project was showcased at Suoni Per Il Popolo in Montreal and later at the Elektra Festival at the PHI Centre, also in Montreal.
A major phase of research and creation occurred between January 2023 and July 2024 during a residency at the SAT Montreal and various locations in Québec. This process culminated in Terra Flecta, a new iteration of the project, which had its world premiere at the SAT in July 2024 and was subsequently presented at MUTEK Montréal in August 2024. Earlier that year, a draft of Terra Flecta was also shared as part of Kohlenstoff presents Cymatiques II in February 2024.
The international trajectory of mesocosm reached new heights in November 2024, with performances during the ACC’s Creators Residency, Opening Ceremony at the Asia Culture Center (ACC) in Gwangju, South Korea, at PRECTXE presents Sound Entelechy Vol. 3 in Seoul and in July 2025 in Rome at Videocittà festival. These milestones reflect the ongoing expansion of mesocosm, showcasing its ability to engage with diverse audiences through its innovative approach to speculative storytelling and environmental themes.
First iteration premiered in August 2021 @ Mutek Montréal
/Excerpts playlist/
/Past performances
05/2026 — Amsterdam (ND), Fiber — Edge effects
05/2026 — Rotterdam (ND), Research/Creation Residency at V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media — Lithogonie
06/2025 — Roma (IT), Videocittà — Edge effects
11/2024 — Seoul (KR), PRECTXE presents Sound Entelechy — prélude
11/2024 — Gwangju (KR), Asia Culture Center (ACC) — Terra Flecta
08/2024 — Montréal (CA), MUTEK — SAT — Terra Flecta
07/2024 — Montréal (CA), World premiere — SAT — Terra Flecta
01/2023 to 07/2024 — Research/Creation Residency at SAT Montréal
02/2024 — Montréal (CA), Kohlenstoff presents Cymatiques II — Terra Flecta (draft)
06/2023 — Montréal (CA), Suoni Per Il Popolo — prélude
08/2023 — Montréal (CA), Elektra Festival, PHI Centre — prélude
06/2022 — Santa Fe, New Mexico (US), Currents New Media — prélude
08/2021 — Montréal (CA), World premiere — MUTEK Montreal — prélude
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©Joël Lavoie 2023