This week’s blog is written by my colleague, Valerie Lecolle, after her visit to KXKM near Lyon, France.

KompleX KapharnaüM (KXKM) is a 20-years old multidisciplinary arts organization based in Vaulx-En-Velin France, known for its innovative and boundary-pushing performances that blend various art forms such as theater, music, visual arts, and technology. KXKM aims to create immersive experiences that challenge perceptions and ignite the imagination. With a focus on experimentation and collaboration, KXKM’s productions often feature a mix of live performances, interactive installations, and digital elements, inviting audiences to engage with art in new and unexpected ways. Through its diverse range of projects and performances, KXKM continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art and redefine the possibilities of interdisciplinary collaboration, even at a worldwide level.

SOLIDWORKS For Good

As part of our SOLIDWORKS For Good program, we are providing free SOLIDWORKS licenses to non-profit and humanitarian organizations, and KXKM is part of them, using SOLIDWORKS for 5 years in order to create the structures that serve as the basis for the projects they propose.

KXKM Universe

Simon Zerbib, scenographer, welcomed us and guided us in the KXKM universe. Simon’s journey with SOLIDWORKS began during his student years at secondary school in Villeurbanne  back in 1998, forging a strong connection to the software that continues to shape his work at KXKM today.

“SOLIDWORKS is a highly valued tool at KXKM as it saves us a considerable amount of time and fosters effective interaction and collaboration among our various departments. SOLIDWORKS is a tool serving our versatile and multifaceted artistic creations ” he said.

Together with Pierre Duforeau, Artistic Director, he showed and explained us their two different kinds of projects they are working on: dedicated projects and long-term projects.

Pierre Duforeau and Simon Zerbib

Their artistic creations are born from a rich tapestry of documentary materials, including videos, sounds, archives, words, and atmospheres, which are meticulously collected or captured by the artists themselves. Operating at the crossroads of multiple art forms, they skillfully blend these elements based on the unique requirements of each project and its contextual backdrop. Embracing the immersive potential of public spaces, all their performances unfold outdoors, leveraging the streets, squares, and buildings to craft distinctive and evocative settings for their artistic expression.

Artistic Vision

In their pursuit of innovation, they continually explore new modes of performance, often opting for mobile setups that allow them to seamlessly navigate various environments. Supported by a dedicated team of technicians and engineers, they custom-build specialized tools and structures tailored to their artistic vision, enabling flexibility and adaptability to meet the demands of different venues and artistic endeavors. Structures are designed to be modular, allowing for swift dismantling and reassembly to accommodate evolving creative needs and preferences. Their creative endeavors encompass two primary categories:

• Touring shows, meticulously reimagined for each new performance space, ensuring a seamless integration with the surroundings like the Migration project with reusable roofing modules. The goal here was to ensure coverage and waterproofing on demountable structures.

• Site-specific projects, commissioned to resonate with specific areas, neighborhoods, or locales, offering bespoke experiences deeply rooted in their respective environments like the CuttingGardens. CuttingGardens is a global conference on innovative M/EEG data analysis methods. It occurs in multiple locations worldwide, featuring a unified global program broadcasted to all, along with tailored local programs including talks, tutorials, posters, and social events.

A big thank you to KXKM and its entire team for enabling the creation of synergies between artistic concepts and the public, and for reestablishing dialogue to evoke emotions.

Thank you Valerie for sharing KXKM’s story with the SOLIDWORKS Community.

Design well, Marie

Marie Planchard

Senior Director, Early Engagement, 3DEXPERIENCE Works at Dassault Systemes

Marie Planchard is an education and engineering advocate. As Senior Director of Education & Early Engagement, SOLIDWORKS, she is responsible for global development of content and social outreach for the 3DEXPERIENCE Works products across all levels of learning including educational institutions, Fab Labs, and entrepreneurship.