Christophe Muylaert

This art installation consists of two 3D-printed pedestals covered with blackened artificial grass, evoking a natural setting within an artificial framework. One pedestal holds a 3D-printed bird, titled Le Signifiant, representing the 'signifier' in semiotics—the physical form of a sign. The other pedestal features a 3D-printed birdhouse, titled Le Référent, symbolizing the 'referent'—the actual object in reality to which a sign refers.

The work engages with Jean Baudrillard’s theory of simulacra and hyperreality. Le Signifiant, the 3D-printed bird, is a simulacrum: a sign without an original, a copy of something that never existed. This reflects Baudrillard’s notion that in contemporary culture, simulations detach from reality yet are still perceived as real. In contrast, Le Référent, the birdhouse, retains a functional link to reality—it can serve as a real shelter despite its artificial origin. This juxtaposition highlights the blurred boundaries between reality and simulation.

An AI-generated video accompanies the installation, showing the 3D-printed bird gradually transforming into a real, moving bird. This evolution raises the question: does an AI-created entity gain referential status, or does it remain a signifier? By exploring these shifts in meaning, the installation prompts reflection on how signs and simulations shape our perception of reality.