RENNES.- What if art could heal? This profound question lies at the heart of "Pharmakon / Reboot," the captivating new solo exhibition by Violaine Lochu, opening its doors today at La Criée. Running until September 7, 2025, the show is an immersive journey into the transformative power of voice, language, and ritual, inviting visitors to consider their own pathways to well-being.

Lochu, an artist celebrated for her transdisciplinary practice, seamlessly weaves together visual arts, experimental music, and sound poetry. "Pharmakon / Reboot" is conceived as a living, breathing ecosystem where "costume-scores," "drawing-writings," evocative soundscapes, video performances, and powerful live performances all interact to create a unique sensory experience.

The exhibition's central inquiry directly confronts the audience: "What would you like to heal from?" This simple yet profound question underpins Lochu's extensive research into healing practices and the intricate relationship between humans and the plant world. Her journey involved deep dives into traditional knowledge, meeting with herbalists, ethnobotanists, and energy healers in Mayenne, and gathering personal testimonies from Rennes residents facing various ailments. It's this rich, human material that Lochu translates into new musical and visual forms, creating a powerful dialogue between ancient wisdom and contemporary expression.

"Pharmakon / Reboot" is steeped in a strong ritualistic dimension, drawing inspiration from both local and distant indigenous healing traditions, while firmly placing itself within the modern history of performance art. Visitors aren't just spectators; they become participants. Live performers will engage in healing rituals, and throughout the exhibition's run, the art center's own team will regularly perform care rituals linked to the wishes left by visitors. This innovative approach reflects a shared vision between the artist and institution to reimagine how art can be presented and transmitted, fostering deeper connection and engagement.

Violaine Lochu, who divides her time between Montreuil, France, and Cotonou, Benin, is known for her work that explores the voice as a conduit for encounter and metamorphosis. Her practice thrives on long periods of immersion in specific environments, collecting diverse sound and visual materials that become the foundation for her evocative performances and installations. Her collaborations with musicians, choreographers, and researchers underscore her belief in art as a bridge between different worlds—contemporary and ancient, scholarly and popular—and between human and non-human entities.

"Pharmakon / Reboot" is more than an exhibition; it's an invitation to reflection. It challenges us to consider how modern and traditional knowledge can intertwine, how an art space can truly welcome and listen, and whether an artwork can be simultaneously intimate and collective, poetic and political. By breaking down the barriers between artistic, medical, and social forms, Violaine Lochu offers a compelling vision for the sharing of knowledge and the powerful (re)invention of healing gestures. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a transformative exhibition that speaks directly to our collective human experience.