Do spaces bear the best witness to the transformations of our era?

In an age where images blur the line between reality and fiction, the idea that spaces bear the most accurate witness to this transformation is growing stronger. Artists Lucile Soussan, electronic music producer Ivan Descamps, and science fiction writer Bernard Werber came together at Dilecta Galerisi in Paris to discuss this topic. The event was organized by Avant-garde Vakfı on 11 Haziran 2026. Participants emphasized that spaces are not just physical entities, but also silent witnesses to social and cultural transformations.

Soussan questions the memory of spaces and how they change over time in her works. According to her, the transformations a space undergoes are the most concrete indicator of the changes experienced by that society. For example, an abandoned factory symbolizes the end of the industrial era and the transition to a new economic order. By photographing such spaces and creating installations, the artist confronts the viewer with the past.

Descamps, on the other hand, creates soundscapes by using the acoustic properties of spaces in music production. According to him, every space has its own unique sound, and this sound reflects the history and soul of that space. Diskay offers the listener a different experience by sampling these sounds of spaces in electronic music. This approach helps us understand the transformation of spaces not only visually, but also auditorily.

Werber, however, uses spaces in his science fiction novels as a mirror for future societies. According to him, spaces do not only hold the present, but also possible futures. The writer questions how spaces shape human behavior and how technological developments change our perception of space. Especially in the age of virtual reality and artificial intelligence, the importance of physical spaces is increasing even more.

As a result, these three figures from different disciplines agree that spaces are the most important witnesses of our era. In a world where images can be manipulated, spaces offer a concrete and reliable reference point. The event gave participants the opportunity to look at spaces with a different eye and listen to the stories they tell. Such discussions contribute to the development of new ways of thinking at the intersection of art, technology, and philosophy.