Ouroboros on the Dancefloor: Richie Hawtin and John Gerrard’s 24-Hour Odyssey in Paris

Where Contemporary Art Meets Underground Club Ethos

Having spent over two decades behind the decks since 1999 — navigating the dynamic spectrum between organic Brazilian grooves, disco soul, breakbeat science, and deep house —, witnessing electronic music enter revered contemporary art spaces remains deeply compelling. Minimal techno has always shared an architectural sensibility with modern sculpture, and the latest joint venture between Richie Hawtin and Irish artist John Gerrard at Paris club FVTVR during Art Basel Paris exemplifies this synergy.

Spanning 24 continuous hours across October 24 and 25, the subterranean venue on the Quai d'Austerlitz transforms into an immersive laboratory bridging visual technology and nocturnal ritual. Hawtin, operating both as techno pioneer and through his hypnotic Plastikman persona, collaborates with Gerrard under the auspices of Reference Festival to explore the limits of spatial sound and digital aesthetics.

The Infinite Loop: From Algorithmic Meditation to Pure Groove

The experience unfolds in two distinct 12-hour chapters. The opening day session presents Gerrard’s visual simulation infin. 1. iridescent. stream. In this piece, a digitally rendered python glides through a simulated world, completing a figure eight every hour as its mouth meets its tail — echoing the ancient mythological Ouroboros. Accompanying the piece is an exclusive sonic canvas composed by Plastikman utilizing Bronze.ai, an engine that enables generative audio to continuously evolve in real time.

For seasoned selectors who value organic groove evolution over sterile loops, this dynamic interaction mirrors the art of extended DJ journeys: music that breathes, recalculates, and adapts dynamically to human presence.

MINUS+ and the Raw Sanctuary of Sound
At midnight, the cerebral installation gives way to physical catharsis. The club evolves into the MINUS+ / SPIRITS showcase, pairing Gerrard’s performance work SPIRITS (featuring Ana Osj, originally born from LACMA’s Art + Technology Lab) with a masterclass lineup featuring Hawtin, Matador, Courtesy, Kristin Velvet, and Reece Pritchard.

This 24-hour gathering reminds us of the true power of club culture: it is not mere escapism, but a vital cultural crucible.

Much like the physical demand of jungle basslines or the relentless drive of soulful rhythm, extended underground experiences push physical endurance and elevate shared consciousness. Hawtin and Gerrard prove once again that the dancefloor remains our most profound modern gallery.