Pierre Huyghe’s ‘Camata’ at Bourse de Commerce Explores Humanity’s Place in a Technological Universe
The Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection in Paris is currently hosting an exhibition titled “Clair-obscur,” featuring the work of French artist Pierre Huyghe, specifically his 2024 film Camata. The exhibition, running until May 22, 2026, delves into themes of life and death, reality and fiction, and the evolving relationship between humanity and technology.
‘Camata’ and the Atacama Desert
Camata unfolds within the museum’s Rotunda, presenting a meditative exploration of these complex themes. The film was shot in the Atacama Desert in Chile, a location likewise significant for its historical context – it was a site of a concentration camp during the Pinochet dictatorship and the location of Christian Boltanski’s 2014 installation, Animitas . The film centers around a human skeleton discovered in the desert, and depicts a ritualistic interaction with the remains orchestrated by robotic arms powered by solar energy.
A Hybridization of Concepts
Huyghe’s work, as noted in an interview published by the Pinault Collection, embodies the philosophy that “fiction is a means of capturing reality.” Camata presents a continuous interplay between opposing concepts: life and death, reality and fiction, the human and the non-human. The choreography of the robotic arms around the skeleton is described as both archaic and technological, slow and precise, resembling an autopsy.
‘Clair-obscur’ and the Exploration of Death
The “Clair-obscur” exhibition, featuring approximately 100 works by 27 artists, broadly explores the theme of death. Huyghe’s Camata is presented as a central piece, inviting viewers to contemplate humanity’s position within a world increasingly shaped by technology. The film’s imagery shifts between day and night, and the pace of the images is constantly changing due to machine-learning algorithms.
Visitor Information
The Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection is open Monday to Sunday from 11 a.m. To 7 p.m., with late openings on Fridays until 9 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays and May 1st. Free late openings are offered on the first Saturday of each month from 5 p.m. To 9 p.m., with special events during March’s late openings featuring the interplay of darkness and light in the Rotunda.
Ticket prices are €15 for full price, €10 for ages 18-26 and other reductions, and free for Super Cercle members and those with the Membership Card. Free entry is also available after 4 p.m. For Super Cercle members.