Introduction

Jean-Pascal Flavien's breathing house, built on occasion of the artist’s solo exhibition at Parc Saint Léger, included walls that could be moved to change the interior spaces. The furniture was taken outside each day to form sequences of domestic objects. These changes to the spatial divisions and to the dispersed furniture of the house between daytime and nighttime constituted a regular rhythm. The artist invited guests to live in the house and engage with the environment thereby created. Precipitating interaction of the inhabitants with the conditions created in the houses (access to sunlight, ventilation, the division in work or sleeping areas) is an integral part of the artist’s practice. At the same time, these circumstances are not predictive but include elements of play and chance.