ROBERT SAUCIER
SLIDES DESCRIPTION

1: LE VIDE N'EXISTE PLUS (THE VOID DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE) 1993. Solar cells and transistor radios, motors and
mechanism, spot light, photosensitive motion detector, easel, metal, wood, 500cm x 162cm x 304cm(H). Galerie
d'art du College Edouard-Montpetit (Longueuil), Obscure (Quebec), Leo Kamen Gallery (Toronto), "Les Ateliers
s'exposent 1994", Cobalt Art Actuel (Montreal). This installation is comprised of eleven photovoltaic plates that
react to the light rays emanating from a spotlight which swings to and fro in a pendulum motion above the solar
collectors. They transform the energy produced by the light into current that powers a series of small radios which
are tuned to various stations. From that brief exposure to light emerge sounds, a few notes or a few words taken
completely out of context, producing successions of sounds to which we can ascribe no meaning other than
perhaps to suspect them of belonging to signifying chains.
2 & 3: Untitled 1993. Solar cells and transistor radios, motors and mechanism, spot light, photosensitive motion
detector, easel, metal, wood, 608cm x 460cm feet x 182cm(H) Centre d'art Cote-des-Neiges (Montreal), Obscure
(Quebec), Cobalt Art Actuel (Montreal).
4 : SURFIN, 1994-95. Solar cells (photovoltaic cell), transistor radios, motors and mechanisms, electric light,
photosensitive motion detector, metal, wood, 460cm in diameter x 304cm (H), 1994-95, Optica (Montreal), AXENEO 7, Hull, (Quebec), University of Moncton Art Gallery, Moncton, (New-Brunswick), Galerie Colline, Histotical
Museum of Madawaska, Saquenay Lac St-Jean Museum, Chicoutimi, (Quebec). Twenty-four solar cells are the
only electrical source for as many transistor radios. To a motor driven mechanism attached to the ceiling is
secured a steel cable at which end is fixed an industrial spotlight. The mechanism is controlled by a motion
detector and is programmed to change direction. Just enough energy is transferred to the connected radio so that
it sounds out only a syllable, but the subsequent radio take the relay. The solar cells being evenly spaced by a
length equal to their own, there is as much "empty space" in the subsequent broadcast as there is "substance".
5 : PIEZO. 1995. Solar cells (photovoltaic cell), transistor radios, motors and mechanisms, electric light,
photosensitive motion detector, metal, wood, 243cm in diameter x 304cm(H), Optica (Montreal).
6 & 7: PENUMBRA, (OR THE NEWS AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT), 1995. Solar cells (photovoltaic cell), transistor radios,
motors and mechanisms, electric light, photosensitive motion detector, metal, wood, the overall dimensions
depend on the installation, in this case, the ceiling were 305 cm high. Galerie Plein Sud, Longueuil, (Quebec).
8 TO 10: PES MACHINES QUI NE PEUVENT MENTIR (MACHINES THAT CANNOT LIE). 1997. Solar cells (photovoltaic cell),
transistor radio, tape recorders, weather radios. Each element is made in steel and measured 300cm high. The
installation was put up in a public park (Pare de la Bolduc) in Montreal from August to November 1997. Event
organized by Optica, Montreal, Canada
11 & 12: RECITER LE COMPAS, 1998. Wood, metal, CD players with speakers, electronic controls, motor,
photosensitive motion detector, 365cm x 365cm, 1998, Gallery of the University of Quebec in Montreal, Espace
Virtuel, Chicoutimi, (Quebec), 1998
13 & 14 : STILL CAN'T FLY. 1999. Aluminium, 2 portable CD players with speakers, electronic controls, motor,
photosensitive motion detector. 490cm in diameter. Galerie Circa , Montreal, , Espace Virtuel, Chicoutimi,
(Quebec), Passart, University of Quebec of Abitibi, Rouyn-Noranda, (Quebec). Walking into the small gallery at
Circa triggers a curious robotic vehicle that's attached to the post in the middle of the room. A strange-sounding
voice reads newspaper headlines as the vehicle slowly spirals its way around the post. When the cable that
connects it to the post is completely wound up and it can't move any farther, it simply reverses direction, unwinds
and spirals the other way - over and over and over again. (Marcus Miller)
15 & 16: OISEAUX DE TOUTE LES couLEURS. (BIRDS OF DIFFERENT COLORS), 2001. Solar panels, various sound
playback devices, wood. 6 elements measuring 304cm high.
17 TO 20: AUTOSMART 2002. Six robots with microcontrollers, sound modules and various mechanisms,
aluminium and plywood. Each robot occupies a space of 300cm in diameter. Centre d'exposition Circa, Montreal,
Canada